There is no alternative to expanding Heathrow airport, airline chiefs told MPs today.

A future Conservative government would scrap Labour plans to build a third runway at the west London airport.

But today, easyJet and Virgin Atlantic bosses told the House of Commons Transport Committee Heathrow was full already and needed extra investment.

They also expressed aviation's opposition to the planned increases in the Air Passenger Duty (APD) airport departure tax.

``Heathrow has been creaking at the seams for some time,'' said Virgin Atlantic chief executive Steve Ridgway.

He went on: ``We need a more-efficient Heathrow and we need to spend money on Heathrow.''