The Airport Commission has rejected plans for an island airport in the Thames estuary dubbed “Boris Island” because of the Mayor’s strong support for the plan.

Sir Howard Davies, chairman of the Airports Commission, said that factors in the plan’s rejection included the cost, economic disruption and environmental issues.

In the report, Sir Howard said: "We are not persuaded that a very large airport in the Thames estuary is the right answer to London's and the UK's connectivity needs.

"While we recognise the need for a hub airport, we believe this should be a part of an effective system of competing airports to meet the needs of a widely spread and diverse market like London's.

"There are serious doubts about the delivery and operation of a very large hub airport in the estuary.
"The economic disruption would be huge and there are environmental hurdles which it may prove impossible, or very time-consuming to surmount.”

Boris Johnson called the decision "myopic".

The commission will now decide between the three alternative plans; adding a third runway at Heathrow, lengthening an existing runway at Heathrow, and a new runway at Gatwick.