Time is running out for London airports facing gridlock, unless airports like Southend can come to the rescue.

That is the verdict delivered by two reports with one study showing that without action the situation will soon become critical.

One report, produced by independent experts for the British Air Transport Association (BATA), has warned that passengers are being turned away in massive numbers from London airports - but France and Holland are already delivering the extra capacity required.

Southend Airport chief executive, Andrew Walters, said: "As the big airports get busier this overspill has a direct impact on the smaller ones.

"Crucial airport business such as the smaller airline services, unscheduled flights for celebrities and business people and urgent medical or freight flights, all get squeezed out first."

He added that the report was welcomed because it would contribute to the planning of capacity and Southend Airport's ability to support the economy of London and the UK.

Another report commissioned by the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) that blueprints the demand for air travel in 2030 also highlights the need to divert air traffic from the London hubs.

Simon Sperryn, chief executive of the LCCI, said: "We are seriously worried that the Government will fall into the temptation of delaying the issue of how to provide new airport facilities until well after the next general election.

"We cannot afford to wait for many more years for a clear indication from Government about how demand will be met."

Although the development of Southend Airport is a controversial issue, with critics pinpointing a lack of action, the airport director said that there is immediate room for more traffic.

Airport director, Roger Campbell said: "In 1989 this runway had 113,000 movements and at the moment it only has 70,000 - so there is spare capacity here."

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.