Another day, another delay to new runway
When is a delay not a delay? When it involves putting down a new runway in the south east of England.
Earlier this week, prime minister Theresa May, said to be in favour of expansion at Heathrow, signalled that the Cabinet would decide next Tuesday on where to put a new strip.
That, however, will not be the end of the story. The final, final decision will be taken by parliament – as late as winter 2017-18, meaning it could be another 16 months before the national policy statement relating to airport expansion is approved by MPs.
Read more: Gatwick gets my vote for a new runway – but why can’t Heathrow expand too?
And, in an unusual move, some ministers will get the chance to speak out against the proposal, which many have viewed as a big hint that Heathrow will be given clearance to land its plans for a third runway.
Accusations of dithering and procrastination soon started to fly: the government was kicking the can down the road, thereby causing unnecessary uncertainty for British businesses at a key time, and affecting their ability to compete on the global stage; it was yet another hold-up in a much-delayed decision which has seen countless endorsements, investigations and recommendations, to little effect.
Read more: Don't make passengers foot the bill of airport expansion, says BA boss
Not so, countered the government: the intricate process leading to a decision on airport capacity was first announced by cabinet minister Patrick McLoughlin in February (although at the time he kept very quiet on how long it would take).
The anointed airport Heathrow was quick to side with ministers: this was the expected and appropriate political process, its spokespeople said.
But patience was wearing thin in some quarters, with Sir Howard Davies, chair of the Airports Commission, urging the government not to park the runway decision for a year “just because a few people will argue about it".
Behind all the theatrics lie some interesting political dynamics with wider implications. In Heathrow and the new reactors at Hinkley Point C, we now have two examples of how our methodological prime minister makes big decisions: in her own good time, with plenty of built-in consultation time, and also with get-out clauses.
Read more: Gatwick takes a swipe at the Airports Commission over inaccurate forecasts
She may have given a clear timetable for Article 50, but this week's events beg the question as to what wiggle room she will be granted during the inevitably strained and complex negotiations with Brussels, and how she will cope with the relatively short two-year window that Article 50 allows. Leaving the EU promises to make Hinkley and Heathrow look like child's play.