With all the challenges facing Heathrow, it might be time for the prime minister to revisit his own London airport plan

But the endless delays and costs and technical and social challenges, including this week’s court ruling, facing the expansion of Heathrow, located in a crowded part of Greater London, raise questions for the whole UK as to where its main airport should be.

Given that Boris Johnson himself has advocated a completely new airport in the Thames Valley it makes sense now that he is prime minister to re-examine that plan.

Such an airport would in theory be further away from Northern Ireland, but in fact many planes from NI to Heathrow head out to the east of London in any event, before arcing round towards Heathrow, so it would be no further.

It would also have many more slots for regional flights.

Heathrow could then be turned into a business park, using the existing terminal buildings, and upmarket housing, amid trees, using the runways. This would massively increase housing provision in an over-crowded capital city.

Gatwick, Birmingham and Bristol airports could all be expanded. The new Thames mega airport would be located off the existing HS1 rail line.

People globally are not going to stop flying but ever more energy efficient jets can help combat climate change. In the meantime, the UK (including NI) should be aiming to reclaim its status as a pioneer of global infrastructure.