Airports around the UK want to expand and increase flights, despite a government commitment to cut emissions. Are their plans bad for the environment, and will they interfere with the UK's ambition to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050? British airports also employ hundreds of thousands of people, and the owners say a strong aviation sector is vital for the UK's future as a trading nation. Many pension funds are invested in the industry. That's why councillors have approved a new terminal at Leeds Bradford Airport, and a runway extension at Southampton may be agreed later this month.