Heathrow campaigners lose High Court challenge against third runway

Last-ditch efforts to block the expansion of Heathrow have failed after the High Court blocked several challenges from campaigners. The Evening Standard reports that the ruling yesterday follows judicial reviews brought by, among others, London mayor Sadiq Khan. While Lord Justice Hickinbottom stated that underlying issues may have driven the campaigners, the court was merely concerned with the legality of the Airports National Policy Statement. Speaking after the ruling, director general of the British International Freight Association (Bifa) Robert Keen said: “On behalf of Bifa member companies, which are keen for the greater number of flights and accompanying airfreight capacity that would result from a new runway, I can only hope that yesterday’s ruling helps bring the debate on Heathrow expansion closer to an end.”