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As airports across Britain are due to start reopening today, we examine the transport policies and priorities of the three main parties.
Alongside the election campaign itself, the eruption of the Icelandic volcano and the unprecedented closure of UK airspace has dominated headlines over the past week.
Emptied of planes since mid-day Thursday, the use of the skies over Britain is one of the key issues that the next government will need to address.
Both the Conservative and Liberal Democrats oppose Labour's policy of constructing of a third runway at Heathrow and see high-speed rail as providing a workable and environmentally friendly alternative.
But Labour argues that high-speed rail will complement the expansion of Heathrow, without pushing up carbon output.
Labour argues in its manifesto that Heathrow is already operating at full capacity, and say they support an extra runway Heathrow "subject to strict conditions on environmental impact and flight numbers".
But the Conservatives say they want to make Heathrow "better, not bigger" and have pledged to stop the third runway and instead link Heathrow directly to a high speed rail network, providing an alternative to thousands of flights.
Similarly the Liberal Democrats manifesto includes a commitment to cancel plans for the third runway and any expansion of other airports in the South East of England.
On the railways, the Conservatives have been forced to deny rumours they may break a manifesto pledge to support Crossrail – the new rail link that will connect towns to the east and west of London.
Speaking on LBC radio last week, shadow London minister Justine Greening said the party could not guarantee the project, even though their manifesto says they support it.
Both Labour and the Liberal Democrats have said they support Crossrail, with Labour's Olympic minister Tessa Jowell giving an "unequivocal guarantee" that they would go ahead with it.
On the roads, the Conservatives envisage a national battery-recharging network and have promised to consult on the introduction of a ‘Fair Fuel Stabiliser’. This would cut fuel duty when oil prices rise, and vice versa.
Labour has also put forward plans to invest in low-carbon transport, and has committed to providing 100,000 electric vehicle charging points by the end of the next Parliament.
The Liberal Democrats meanwhile want to phase out vehicle excise duty and replace it with road user charging – a policy about which the Conservatives remain highly sceptical.
Key policy points
Conservative
• Begin work on a high speed rail line connecting London and Heathrow with Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds.
• Grant longer, more flexible rail franchises to incentivise private sector investment Introduce a moratorium on building on disused rail lines still in public ownership.
• Block plans for Heathrow’s third runway and for extra runways at Stansted and Gatwick.
• Reform Air Passenger Duty to encourage a switch to fuller and cleaner planes.
• Introduce incentives for electricity network operators to establish a new national car recharging network.
• Stop central government funding for new fixed speed cameras.
• Consult on the introduction of a ‘Fair Fuel Stabiliser’ that would cut fuel duty when oil prices rise and vice versa.
Labour
• Consult on legislation for new high-speed rail lines.
• Major investment programme in existing rail services, hugely improving commuter services into and through London, and electrifying new rail-lines.
• Rule out introduction of national road pricing for next Parliament.
• Support expansion of Heathrow, but rule out other expansion at existing airports within the next Parliament.
• Create 100,000 electric vehicle charging points by next Parliament.
Liberal Democrats
• UK Infrastructure Bank to invest in public transport like high speed rail.
• Cap increases in regulated rail fares to one percent below inflation and require Network Rail to pay a refund of one-third of ticket prices if journeys are diverted to rail replacement buses.
• Prepare for the introduction of a system of road-pricing in a second parliament.
• Revenue raised would be used to abolish vehicle excise duty and reduce fuel duty.
• Cancel Heathrow third runway and oppose plans to expand other airports in south east England.
• Replace air passenger duty with a per-plane duty to include air freight, with higher rates for domestic flights where alternative transport is available.
• Work through the EU for a zero emissions target for all new cars by 2040 and extend targets to other vehicles.
• Bus scrappage scheme to encourage firms to replace polluting vehicles with newer, more environmentally-friendly type.
• Use road pricing revenue to cut fuel duty.
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