During recent weeks, the Mayor of London Boris Johnson has been pressured to drop his "pie in the sky" plans to build a six-runway airport in the Thames Estuary. Why is the Mayor so keen to support the £40 billion project and what other solutions have been suggested to combat the capital's airport problems? Chantél du Plooy investigates.
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<br>"An option for London's long-term aviation needs"
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<br>Britain has been seeking an alternative for London's ever-increasing flights into Heathrow and Gatwick airports for years. Recently, suggestions for a third runway at Heathrow provoked strong opposition and spurred legal issues.
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<br>As a result, the Mayor proposed an equally controversial idea: to build a six-runway, 24-hour airport in the Thames Estuary in Kent. His argument is that a new airport on an island off the south-east coast of England will not only create thousands of jobs in construction and aviation, but will also enhance the country's economy substantially.
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<br>Johnson brought Dough Oakervee, executive chair of Crossrail, on board to lead a feasibility study on the project. Oakervee was part of the Hong Kong airport project, making him an ideal candidate to establish the viability of an airport in the Thames Estuary.
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<br>On returning from a visit to the site at the beginning of last year, the Mayor commented that he was positive "that a new airport in the Thames estuary has got to be factored in as an option for London's long-term aviation needs."
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<br>After the initial feasibility study, Oakervee unveiled that the airport would be challenging and expensive, but that it was definitely a realistic option. Further studies on the issues of energy, flood management, transport, ecology and regeneration are currently underway.
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<br>Other good news for the proposed project is that potential investors from outside the country have expressed their financial support for the costly development.
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<br>Concerns
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<br>Medway Council in Kent has put together a report outlining evidence and research that they hope will stop the project in its tracks. . According to the study, nine out of 10 airlines currently using Heathrow Airport, including British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, are against the idea.
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<br>According to the Board of Airline Representatives UK (BAR UK), more competition for Heathrow will cost jobs and an estuary airport will create a risk of bird strikes.
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<br>Jenny Jones, a Green party London assembly member, backed concerns from BAR UK and told to the Guardian that over 200,000 birds use the estuary during winter alone.
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<br>"Their presence would pose a serious risk of bird strike, a threat that would be impossible to avert."
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<br>Councillor Rodney Chambers, Leader of Medway Council, believes there are better solutions to the city's aviation dilemma.
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<br>"Manston Airport in Kent has one of the longest runways in Europe and is close to a high-speed rail link.
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<br>"And not only does Birmingham want to expand but, in a recent survey, nearly half of Londoners said they would fly from there if the high-speed train link earmarked between the capital and Britain's second city goes ahead," he wrote in Mayor Watch.
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<br>With the Thames Estuary Airport scheme receiving severe criticism and opposition from local councillors, airlines, environmental groups and even the public, it seems as if the Mayor's idea has a slim chance of succeeding.
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<br>Perhaps this is why he recently said that he didn't want to build an airport in the Thames Estuary during a live broadcast of Question Time on BBC One.
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<br>The Mayor's office later released a statement saying: "The mayor was referring to the fact that there are no actual plans in place to build an airport."
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<br>While the promise of much-needed jobs is enticing, it remains to be seen whether Boris Johnson will continue to support this ambitious scheme in the run-up to the general election.
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<br>About the Author: Chantel is a regular contributor of career advice and <a href="http://www.careers-jobs.eu/" rel="nofollow">jobs</a> news for leading UK Job Board http://www.careersandjobsuk.com <a href="http://www.careersandjobsuk.com" rel="nofollow">Link text</a>
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