UK business group London First has published a report calling for Heathrow to reduce flight capacity by close to 5,000 per year.
London First said action needs to be taken immediately to stop delays at Heathrow, because a proposed third runway will not be ready until at least 2020.
The lobby group for businesses in the capital said airport owner BAA could reduce delays by cutting 1% of flights - equivalent to 4,800 arrivals and departures, the Guardian reports.
London First Chief Executive Baroness Valentine said Heathrow had been turned from a "silk purse to a sow's ear".
She added: "While proposals for Runway 3 will undeniably address capacity issues in the long-term, we need a better Heathrow now."
Director of the CBI's London region, Nigel Bourne, said the report does not offer a long-term solution to Heathrow's capacity problems.
"Removing transfer passengers and flights could actually undermine Heathrow's ability to act as a hub airport.
"This type of traffic often helps support services that would not otherwise be commercially viable.
"The only real solution to the problem at Heathrow is the provision of much needed additional capacity, subject to meeting the environmental criteria," he said.
By staff writer
