Heathrow willing to scale back third runway after outcry over cost
Europe's busiest airport will indicate its readiness to negotiate with carriers over runway options when it submits a formal pitch to ministers next week, said Thomas Woldbye, the airport's chief executive.
While Heathrow is still expected to make the case for a full-length runway that would encroach on the M25 and cost more than £60bn, according to some estimates, Mr Woldbye said the proposals will feature 'as many options as is possible at this time'.
The flexibility marks a change of tack after he said earlier this year that ripping up a two-mile stretch of Britain's busiest motorway could not be avoided.
The turnaround follows a campaign led by British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, which have accused the airport of favouring a 'gold-plated' expansion plan that could see departure fees swell to as much as £100 a passenger for long-haul flights.
Mr Woldbye said: 'Length of runway is something we will be discussing with airlines. It does not necessarily have to be final in the plan next week.
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