LONDON - The British government announced Tuesday its support for a new runway at Heathrow airport -- the first full length runway at the location since the World War II.

The third runway at Heathrow will bring economic benefits to passengers and the wider economy worth up to 61 billion pounds(75 billion US dollars), a statement of the government said.

Up to 77,000 additional local jobs are expected to be created over the next 14 years and the airport has committed to create 5,000 new apprenticeships over the same period, it added.