Boris Johnson’s proposal to close Heathrow Airport and replace it with a new island airport would cause significant job losses in the Hounslow area of London, a travel recruiter has claimed.

Johnson’s plan to open a new four-runway airport near the Isle of Sheppey, would mean the closure of the oldest commercial airport in the world to make it financially viable, the Daily Mail newspaper reported.

John Tolmie, managing director at AA Appointments, told Recruiter: “The idea of it is quite clever but one of the reasons why Heathrow is so congested is because of the airport. It would get congested on the Isle of Sheppey as well.

“The effect would be huge. A great deal of the area is reliant on the airport, from cleaners right up to airport traffic controllers. I cannot imagine it is going to be good for jobs for those people in the area.”