The company which owns Britain's major airports says Gatwick should have a second runway.

Today's announcement by BAA is the firm's official response to the Government's consultation document on the future of air transport in the South-East.

It is the first time BAA has made its position on expansion at Gatwick abundantly clear - but there is still confusion about the legality of building a new runway at the airport.

There is no clarification as to whether BAA feels the 2019 legal agreement, which stipulates no runway expansion at Gatwick before that date, should be overturned by the Government.

But the announcement, a blow to local anti-runway campaigners at least, has been softened with the inclusion of other runways elsewhere and a promise that air pollution, noise disturbance and other environmental impacts will be carefully monitored and either properly controlled or compensated.

The new runways ought to be phased in during the next 30 years, according to today's short preview of the full nine-page statement being released simultaneously at Gatwick and in London today.

According to the early statement, BAA wants the Government to choose its three new runway options in the South from:

  • A new runway at Heathrow which would not be used for long haul flights
  • A second runway at Gatwick
  • Up to two new runways at Stansted.
  • Make Clasper, BAA's incoming chief executive, said: "This is a critical decision for the UK.

"If we do not provide the infrastructure for aviation to grow, we will cause significant damage to our country's international competitiveness.

"We cannot have a dynamic aviation industry without a strong airport sector with plans for long term growth."

Mr Clasper added: "Doing nothing in the face of these realities is not an option. We hope that firm decisions will be made before the end of the year, not least so that people who live near airports where there is not be no runway development will be spared on-going blight."

While business leaders favour a second runway, Brendon Sewill, chairman of the Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign, said: "Another runway would have a disastrous effect on the whole of Sussex and Surrey.

"Issues include the amount of noise it would create, plus the increase in traffic to and from the airport, and the housing needed for the extra workers.

"We are therefore totally opposed to any such plans. Even if the extra runway didn't get the go ahead until after 2019, as far as we are concerned, the environmental damage would be just as great as if it was now."