Heathrow's hopes for a third runway have suffered another setback, after the opposition party reversed its policy on the expansion.
In Labour's 2010 election manifesto, published when Gordon Brown was still prime minister, it stated: "We support a third runway at Heathrow, subject to strict conditions on environmental impact and flight numbers."
Maria Eagle, shadow transport secretary, said she now "accepted" a third runway at Heathrow is “off the agenda” because of “local environmental impact”.
However, the Labour MP said the current Tory-Lib Dem coalition's policy of banning any expansion in the South East “makes no sense”.
“A successful, thriving aviation sector is crucial for our economic competitiveness,” she said, during a speech to the Airport Operators Association.
“The government’s failure to set out a strategy for aviation, and the lack of any plan to do so until late in this parliament, is now putting jobs and growth at risk.”
Eagle offered to “put aside political differences” and “work on a cross-party basis to establish a credible aviation strategy for the long term”.
She said the Government is “out of touch” with “the calls from business for a credible aviation policy”.
“I urge the new Transport Secretary to accept our offer to work across the political divide on a long term strategy for both aviation and high speed rail as part of the plan for jobs and growth that the country needs,” added Eagle.
As part of her speech, she also called for aviation to be subject to “tougher” CO2 emissions targets.
“It’s time to bring the industry closer to the wider goal in the Climate Change Act to cut emissions by at least 80% by 2050, compared to 1990 levels, and reflect this in future Carbon Budgets,” she said.
“Labour is clear that any growth in aviation must be sustainable and meet the challenge of climate change.”
Eagle also placed her support behind a high speed rail linking London with Birmingham, Manchester, Sheffield and Leeds, but said the line should be built via Heathrow.
“If the Government was to take the line via Heathrow it would remove the need to build an expensive spur later while opening up the prospect of private sector funding, potentially saving the taxpayer billions,” she said.
“It could lead to a new route that makes better use of existing transport corridors.”