The two largest airports in London expressed their willingness on Friday, hoping the Mayor of London could support their respective airport expansion plan.
John Halland-Kaye, CEO of Heathrow on Friday wrote an open letter to Boris Johnson, saying the mayor and Heathrow Airport share the same view that Britain need a successful hub airport, and reminded that Gatwick is unable to compete with Heathrow.
"You have said yourself that Britain definitely needs a successful hub airport if it is to compete in the global race. This leaves two choices: expand Heathrow or build a new solution in the Thames Estuary. Those are the only ways to deliver an airport with the size and scale to keep Britain at the heart of the global economy," he wrote in the letter.
Heathrow has proposed to build a third runway to increase the capacity of hub airport in Britain, while the mayor also suggested a new Thames Estuary airport scheme before. The Airports Commission will announce whether the mayor's proposal be added in an option list next week.
Halland-Kaye wrote that "We have nothing against Gatwick but you have rightly identified that its claim that it can deliver the same benefits as a hub airport is 'a sham, a snare and a delusion'."
He added if Boris' proposal fails, expanding Heathrow will be the only option capable of providing frequent direct long-haul flights to fast-growing countries like China, India and Brazil.
Halland-Kaye also mentioned in the letter that more than 100,000 jobs could be created if the expansion plan of Heathrow succeeds, and many of which will be in Uxbridge, where will likely become the constituency of Boris.
"We will await the outcome of the Airports Commission's decision on the Estuary option before commenting. If the option is taken off the table we will write privately to the Mayor, giving him the respect he deserves," spokesperson of Gatwick Airport responded to Halland-Kaye's letter.
To compete with Heathrow, Gatwick planed to create a second runway, and the spokesman said "building a second runway will deliver two world class airports and competition, which will lead to lower air fares and greater choice for passengers and business."