London’s Heathrow airport has unveiled its brand spanking new terminal today.
Terminal five doesn’t open to passengers until later this month, but when it does the nine billion dollar building will be the new home of British Airways.
But it’s not been built without controversy. It became the longest planning enquiry in British history after an initial proposal was set out in 1995, it was only given the government go-ahead to build it in 2001.
The argument to build a bigger Heathrow stems from the growing rise in air travel, and it will be the same argument put forward for a third runway at Heathrow.
But Britain isn’t the only place where airport expansion is making the headlines.
India’s first “environmentally-friendly” airport was opened in Hyderabad today by Sonia Ghandi.
Germany’s High Court has thrown out a bid by protestors to stop the building of Berlin’s new international airport.
Dubai International Airport keeps on growing. And China is making sure it’s new airport gets the respect it deserves.
But is the growth in air travel a good thing? Should the world, at whatever cost, be making it easier for us to fly to where ever we want whenever we want? Does everyone have the right to fly? Is it sustainable?
What about the environmental damage, is that the cost we pay for truly Open Skies? We’ll be talking about this on the programme next week, and we want your thoughts. Do you live in a town or city where a flight path is proposed? Do you fly regularly as part of your business and can only see life getting easier with airport expansion projects?
Here’s the Chief Executive of British Airways talking about why he’s so optimistic about the future of flying.
Get in touch, we’d love to hear from you.
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BBC World Have Your Say 
there’s a quite good US-centric view of open skies by a respected journalist here: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/23576701/
Well spotted Liz, we’ll be speaking to Joe on the programme..
I hope that air travel becomes as cheap as driving a car down to Tescos!
I would be able to see my children in England much more than the once a year I see them now.
I am still not convinced about ‘Global warming’ there is too much evidence out there that it is a natural phenomenon. What makes me more of a cynic is that governments are using climate change to raise taxes rather than investing in sweeping changes to cut fossil fuels, or the use of, to regen’ power. Britain should be in the forefront in actually exporting excess power rather than importing oil and gas at huge prices to both the county and customers.
950 quid on an SUV does nought to help in the emission of CO2, it just means that those who can afford to pollute, do. Those that can’t buy a smaller car that is much more efficient – taxing the poor out of ownership as always.
Heathrow-
As long as the new facilities have tea
and nice waitresses to pick through the weird UK change
to take what they need
and call you “luv” with a smile
while you wait to change planes
it is good.
They are the UK’s best ambassadors.
Good Luck to Heathrow and the opening of Terminal 5.
Dennis~Madrid, United States of America