Ministers warming to idea of new London airport

Proposals to place a new airport in the London Thames Estuary are beginning to win favour at Number 10, according to sources close to the prime minster.

The Daily Telegraph says that David Cameron is expected to provisionally support the development of a new airport - which is due to be build on recovered land - when the proposal goes into official consultation in March.

Supporters of the scheme, which include London Mayor Boris Johnson, argue that a new inner city airport would serve as a great alternative to creating new runways at Heathrow or Gatwick. Plans for the these have previously been vetoed by government.

As well as bringing a substantial amount of jobs and business to the capital, an inner city airport would make it easier for passengers to travel in and around London from the moment they touch down.

Arrivals may not only have access to public transport services like buses and tube services, but other forms of transport; possibly even including prestige car hire. London can currently only be reached by trains or road from airports such as Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton; however all of these lie much further out of the city.

Whilst speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Boris Johnson insisted that the government is "increasingly interested" in the idea.

"I genuinely believe that they see not just the overwhelming aviation argument and the argument from international competitiveness in making sure that Britain has a hub airport that is viable for the long-term future," he said.