The government has given the green light to a fifth terminal at Heathrow airport.

Despite intense local opposition to the move, the transport secretary, Stephen Byers, has told MPs that the new terminal will go ahead.

Following the four-year public inquiry, Byers said that the terminal can be built - providing certain strict conditions are met. In a bid to calm local fears, he imposed a limit on the number of daytime landings and new restrictions on night flights.

Forum Response: British Airways

Rod Eddington, chief executive of British Airways, told ePolitix.com: "While welcoming the T5 approval and the improved quality of service which will be provided for airline customers, we need to examine the conditions in the decision letter before commenting further.

"What is abundantly clear is that the government has refused to be deflected by the short term problems of world aviation. It is recognised that this decision, which has been so long in coming, is vital to the economic prosperity of the nation, of London and of the local communities around Heathrow, as well as to all airlines and their customers."

Manchester Airport

A spokeswoman for Manchester Airport told ePolitix.com: "The need for T5, to meet demand from its catchment in the south east, was clearly demonstrated at the Public Inquiry and this decision is consistent with our view that the government should work positively to enable existing airports to meet demand within their respective regions. This is what Manchester is doing in northern Britain by building up its network of worldwide, direct, scheduled services."

"It is crucially important for the UK economy that we have a strong aviation industry and we support the approval of T5 which contributes to the sustained growth of the aviation sector. The decision to allow Terminal 5 to go ahead will help support the development of aviation with its hugely beneficial impacts on jobs, investment and the competitiveness of the UK economy."

ABTA

Ian Reynolds, chief executive of ABTA, told ePolitix.com: "The decision to give the go ahead to T5 at Heathrow is great news for the millions of leisure and business travellers who fly to and from the UK. The travel industry provides hundreds of thousands of jobs in the UK, makes a massive contribution to the economy and this new terminal will help ensure that Heathrow retains its position as Europe's premier airport."