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David Cameron's plans to scrap the proposed third runway at Heathrow and invest instead in high-speed rail links have been blasted by the aviation industry, business groups, and political opponents. Most outspoken of all are BA, who have accused the Conservative party of putting the country’s economy at risk and ignoring the views of the business community by putting the nation’s air links “in a strait jacket”.

The Tories have proposed a high-speed rail link from Heathrow to Birmingham, Leeds, and Manchester but BA has been quick to point out that passengers from these cities flying to and from Heathrow account for a mere 3% of air traffic.

BAA, which owns Heathrow, has also expressed its disappointment over the Tories’ plans, saying that the proposed rail link would do nothing to ease the over-crowding at the airport. Numerous business organisations are in agreement with BAA but the green lobby is predictably in favour of a shift towards investment in rail transport. If the Tories win the next election, construction of the new line would start in 2015 and would last twelve years costing £15.6 billion, with private funding accounting for another £4.4 billion.

The Liberal Democrats are all in favour of the Tories’ proposals but have said that it remains to be seen whether the plan is just another of David Cameron’s “empty promises”. Ruth Kelly, the departing transport secretary, has described the proposals as being “politically opportunistic, economically illiterate and hugely damaging to Britain's national interests". The Scottish National Party meanwhile criticises the fact that the plans leave Scotland out of the equation.