London Mayor Johnson Says Cameron’s Aviation Policy ‘Lamentable’

London Mayor Boris Johnson attacked Prime Minister David Cameron’s aviation policy as “lamentable” and said his government must speed up its review into airport capacity or face “economic catastrophe.”

Johnson said the commission led by Howard Davies, which was set up by Cameron to put off a decision on the expansion of London’s Heathrow Airport until after the 2015 election, must report by the end of 2013. The mayor, who opposes the building of additional runways at Heathrow, reiterated his backing for a hub airport in the Thames estuary.

“The government program to address the looming aviation capacity crunch in the U.K. is far too slow and I am hugely concerned that their intended timetable sets a course for economic catastrophe,” Johnson said in a speech in central London today.

“I will continue to work with the government and the Davies Commission, but the urgency of the situation and the lamentable attention that the government has paid to this pressing issue has forced me to accelerate the work that I will do to develop a credible solution,” he said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Thomas Penny in London at tpenny@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: James Hertling at jhertling@bloomberg.net

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Simon Dawson/Bloomberg

A British Airways aircraft approaches Heathrow airport in London.

A British Airways aircraft approaches Heathrow airport in London. Photographer: Simon Dawson/Bloomberg