The GMB union has called for politicians to re-look at building a third runway at Heathrow and link it to the proposed high speed rail link.
The request comes on the back of the Government approving High Speed 2 (HS2), which will link London to Birmingham in 49 minutes and will not be ready until 2026 at the earliest.
The union claims building an additional runway at Heathrow will be much less time consuming and expensive than starting from scratch on an airport hub in north Kent or the Thames estuary.
And its comments are backed up by the CAA's Aviation Policy for the Future report out yesterday, which argues that unless a new runway is opened in the south east of England, customers will face increased airfares and less choice on international routes.
Mick Rix, GMB national officer for the civil aviation industry, said "This go ahead for HS2 is welcome but it should be extended to Heathrow.
"GMB calls on all political parties to reopen the issue of the third runway at Heathrow.
"The site for a third runway at Heathrow is adjacent to the existing runways at the airport. Those with expertise to operate an international hub already live in West London. The transport links are mostly there already.
"Heathrow's worldwide destinations are already decreasing, due to capacity constraints, which have not been addressed by successive governments. New runways at many European hub airports are already taking Heathrow business."
