The government has ruled out taking a decision on whether to approve Terminal 5 at Heathrow airport before the election because of the political sensitivity it would arouse in London marginal constituencies. Government sources last night confirmed that a decision had been put "on the back burner" since the election was likely to be held next year.
The government's view is that this is a planning decision the deputy prime minister, John Prescott, can delay until after the election, although this will have consequences for its airports strategy.
The view of most observers who followed Britain's longest running public inquiry, which finished a year ago, is that the government will eventually approve Terminal 5.
It is almost certainly bound to do so in view of the increasing number of people who want to fly, demonstrated by the 5% annual growth in air traffic.
But limits will be placed on the number of aircraft, such as the one preparing to land above, able to use the terminal and on night flights. Even so, it would bring hostile reaction from a public sceptical of past promises. It was told that Heathrow's Terminal 4 would be the final extension to the world's busiest international airport.
