"There is very limited runway capacity and we are part of the solution to that, " he said.
Brian Ross, from Stop Stansted Expansion, claimed there was now more runway capacity in the UK than in many European countries.
BBC: New Luton and Stansted runways not the answer say bosses
It is true of the government's awakening to the potentially seriously negative impact on inward investment of constrained runway capacity in the south east.
Birmingham Airport says the proposed new high-speed rail link between the city and London could be a solution to runway capacity problems in the South.
Gatwick Airport Ltd said it was "essential" its annual quota of 14, 450 take offs or landings remains to make best use of the single runway capacity.
Indeed, by encouraging budget airlines to dominate these airports, and only half-heartedly promoting improvements to rail links and runway capacity, it made it difficult for a new hub to emerge.
Mr Johnson has opposed the expansion of Heathrow Airport but has said "further runway capacity" is vital and regards "Boris Island airport" - as the Thames estuary plan has become known - as a viable solution.
BBC: Medway Council leader puts anti-airport plan to new MPs
The Davies commission will publish an interim report by the end of 2013, with ideas on how to improve the use of existing runway capacity over the next five years and an assessment of what is needed to maintain the UK's global hub status.
And in the next version of the National Infrastructure Plan, it might want to provide a proper vision for the development of the country's infrastructure networks covering energy generation and transmission, South East runway capacity, national and international freight connectivity and high-speed communication networks.
Even a new runway will not remove capacity constraints in the south-east.
It was no surprise, therefore, that light-jet competitors eventually surpassed it in most categories, including range, runway performance, baggage capacity, and eventually even cabin comfort.
The Citation Excel has the right combination of cabin comfort, baggage capacity and reasonable speed with exceptional runway performance.
The new consultation said that with no new runway or terminal development at Gatwick, the capacity might increase to 46.5 million passengers a year with greater use of larger planes and more intensive use in off-peak hours.
The runway extension is also part of a wider plan to increase capacity.
Mercifully the runway of the national airport is still working, but its capacity is limited because the control-tower's communications equipment has broken down.
It seems likely (see article) that the government will opt for a third runway at Heathrow, which would increase the airport's capacity by nearly half.
Some residents, who live under the flight path and are opposing the new runway plan, say better use could be made of existing airport capacity.
At the start of this year, he produced a study calling for either a four-runway hub airport on a new site in the estuary or increased capacity at existing airports nearby, such as Gatwick or Stansted.
The Mayor of London has again waded into the argument over aviation capacity, telling business leaders that building a new four-runway hub airport in the Thames Estuary is the only way for the UK to be able to compete on the world stage.
The commission acknowledges that Linate, with its single runway handling 14.3m passengers last year, is operating close to full capacity.
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