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The coalition government will not permit any further runway expansions at the London airports. The news was naturally welcomed by eco-warriors, but UK airlines and BAA have expressed concern about the move.

Prior to the election, it was easy to believe that David Cameron was just trying to win votes by plotting against a third runway at Heathrow, especially as the ex-Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, was such a vocal proponent of the plan. Now that Mr Cameron is firmly entrenched in Downing Street, however, it is clear that the new PM is as good as his word.

Heathrow’s third runway has been axed indefinitely, and can now only be built if the Tory government gets the boot during the next election. Expansions at Gatwick and Stansted airports have also been stopped, regardless of whether the two airports had any designs on a new runway.

It seems like an odd decision, especially for a party that waxed lyrical about the state of the economy in its manifesto. The British Chambers of Commerce noted that Mr Cameron’s decision would reduce London’s appeal as an investment zone and deprive the economy of more than £22bn a year – hardly a good way to clear the UK’s budget deficit.

Of course, a lack of investment in UK airports will necessitate an overhaul of the country’s railway network, which could prove to be just as lucrative in the end. The Tories plan to build a new high-speed rail service from London to Edinburgh, and an airport-to-airport link between Heathrow and Birmingham.

Birmingham Airport has long petitioned to become a ‘second Heathrow;’ or at least a pressure valve for the London airport, helping reduce the need for a third runway or a sixth terminal at the site.

Whether the PM will permit expansion at other airports is unknown, but it will be interesting to see how the likes of Manchester and Bristol fare against Tory scrutiny. Manchester’s expansion plans have been branded ‘shocking,’ whilst Bristol Airport appears to be expanding against the wishes of the public.