IAG calls for independent review of Heathrow expansion costs

IAG urged prime minister Boris Johnson and his new govt Wednesday to conduct an independent assessment into Heathrow airport expansion plans. Johnson himself has said he is opposed to expansion but parliament has approved the GBP14b plans, which include building the first full-length new runway in the London area for 70 years, although they are being challenged in the courts. Sector regulator, the CAA, is scheduled to announce planning and early construction costs for the expansion this week. The expansion plans would depend on Britain changing how it allocates slots to airlines. Currently Heathrow is dominated by IAG but rules governing the allocation of slots are under review by the govt. Other airlines, notably Virgin Atlantic, plan to increase their flights from the expanded Heathrow. <br/>