Third runway at Heathrow cleared for takeoff by ministers
The government has approved a third runway at Heathrow to expand UK airport capacity following a cabinet committee meeting on Tuesday.
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said the "truly momentous" decision would support trade and create jobs.
The Department for Transport said a new runway at Heathrow would bring economic benefits to passengers and the wider economy worth up to £61bn and create as many as 77,000 additional local jobs over the next 14 years.
Heathrow said the expansion would allow it to offer more direct flights to UK destinations as well as up to 40 new cities abroad such as Wuhan, Osaka and Quito.
A public consultation will now be held on the effects of airport expansion before the government makes a final decision as part of a national policy statement on aviation.
Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, also said expanding the west London airport was the wrong decision for both London and the UK.
"There are more people affected by noise because of Heathrow than people affected by the airports in Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Munich and Madrid combined," he said. "The air in London is a killer. It makes you sick and it's unlawful.”
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