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Business leaders have called on Howard Davies鈥� Airports Commission to back a single UK hub airport when it makes its recommendations next year.

In a report published today the CBI said 鈥渉ub capacity at a single location鈥� was the 鈥渂est way of boosting connectivity with new markets鈥�.

The recommendation comes just days before the commission - which has been tasked with deciding where the UK should build extra airport capacity - is expected to rule on whether Foster + Partners鈥� Thames estuary airport scheme, which has the backing of Mayor of London Boris Johnson, should be included in its analysis of detailed options.

Katja Hall, CBI deputy director general, said: 鈥淔irst and foremost, UK business wants action.  There can be no more excuses 鈥� we need to see the Airports Commission deliver a strong case for new capacity and a clear schedule for delivery, and politicians to commit to spades in the ground by the end of the next Parliament.鈥�

She said that 鈥渨hile all airports have a role to play in growing the UK鈥檚 connectivity, not all airports play the same role鈥� and hub airports 鈥渢end鈥� to 鈥渄eliver the new connections to emerging markets that we desperately need鈥�.

The CBI report said it was 鈥渋mperative鈥� that after Howard Davies鈥� commission delivers its recommendations next summer the government take 鈥渋mmediate鈥� action to allow building to start by 2020.

John Holland-Kaye, chief executive of Heathrow airport, claimed the CBI report 鈥渆ssentially shows that British business is backing Heathrow as the UK鈥檚 only hub airport鈥�.

He added: 鈥淭he centre of commerce has now shifted to faraway cities in places such as China, India and Brazil.  Only Heathrow has the ability to provide the long haul routes that will help our businesses make the deals in those countries that will help the UK prosper.鈥�

But a spokesperson for Gatwick Airport, which is also trying to convince the commission that it should build another runway, said expansion at Gatwick was 鈥渢he only option which meets all the CBI鈥檚 objectives of deliverability, access to new markets, and promoting greater competition鈥�.

But he said the CBI had 鈥渃hosen not to address鈥� developments in 鈥渁ircraft technology鈥� and 鈥渁viation trends鈥� by recommending a single hub airport.

Richard Gammon, global director of aviation and transportation at architect HOK, said he believed the CBI鈥檚 report showed the business group supported the Heathrow proposal, but urged for expansion of both Heathrow and Gatwick.

Gammon said: 鈥淩ecognising the need to maintain London鈥檚 position as a world city and Britain鈥檚 long-term economic growth, we are delighted to see the CBI鈥檚 support for the expansion and development of a single, larger hub airport at Heathrow.鈥�

鈥淲hilst Heathrow undoubtedly provides the most sensible choice to address the short-medium term needs, we would also strongly encourage the Commission to look much further into the future and give consideration to the endorsement of expansion at both Heathrow and Gatwick.鈥�

Last Friday, Holland-Kaye published an open letter to Johnson which urged him to support Heathrow鈥檚 expansion.

In his letter he said: 鈥淚f your own proposal for a new Thames Estuary airport is not shortlisted by the Airports Commission then Heathrow will be the only hub option left in the race.鈥�

He urged Johnson to 鈥渕aintain鈥� his support for a hub airport and added: 鈥淎ny other choice would be a betrayal of the case that you have made so effectively over the last three years.鈥�

In response a spokesperson for the Mayor of London said the Thames estuary airport was the only 鈥渃redible option鈥� for expanding airport capacity in the South-East.