Airlines sound alarm over 'blank cheque' for Heathrow third runway

Bosses from British Airways, Virgin and easyJet urge MPs to secure pledge on cost before vote

The true cost of Heathrow expansion is likely to be "grossly" higher than the 14.3bn the airport has cited, airlines have told MPs, adding that transparency and guarantees should be supplied ahead of a crucial vote.

Willie Walsh, chief executive of IAG, British Airways' parent company and the main operator at Heathrow, said parliament should not trust Heathrow and said he had "zero confidence" that a third runway would be delivered on time and budget.