In The News

Thomas Woldbye, chief executive of the London hub, called on ministers to introduce new rules to speed up planning approval, as the airport confirmed today (Thursday) that it had begun work on a formal application for the £33 billion project.  

 He said in a statement: “Heathrow expansion is a critical national project and a central part of our journey to make Heathrow an extraordinary airport, fit for the future.

The Royal Borough’s aviation forum has warned that Heathrow’s third runway plans could put further pressure on housing and temporary accommodation demand.

Ministers have admitted that the Government may miss its sustainable aviation fuel target, which is key to allowing a third runway at Heathrow.

They highlighted “risks” to achieving the goal to getting more planes using eco-fuels.

This is a House of Commons committee special report, including a government response to an earlier committee report.

A review of regulations covering Heathrow will take place by the aviation regulator after the government backed the airport’s multi-billion pound third runway expansion proposal.

 A working paper for consultation on Heathrow’s regulatory model was published by the Civil Aviation Authority, which also "explores whether an alternative model for capacity expansion could better serve the interests of consumers using the airport”.

BBC video report on the latest news following the Secretary of State for Transport’s announcement.

A third runway could allow airport to expand to 150 million passengers a year, nearly double the current scale.

Decisive action on third runway to support trade, tourism and hundreds of thousands of jobs.

Heathrow Airport Limited’s third runway proposal will be basis for expansion.

Heathrow Airport should be expanded without moving the M25 motorway, the CEO of British Airways Sean Doyle has said. Speaking at the Airlines 2025 conference in Westminster on Monday, Mr Doyle said: "If you can avoid moving the M25, you should avoid moving the M25.

Hillingdon Council, led by Cllr Ian Edwards, expressed deep disappointment at the government’s announcement on the expansion of Heathrow Airport.

IATA welcomes the UK Government’s support for Heathrow’s expansion but warns against high costs that could impact long-term competitiveness.

The UK government has launched a review of the ANPS to accelerate Heathrow Airport expansion, creating jobs, boosting trade, and improving connectivity nationwide.

Sir Sadiq Khan has raised fresh objections to plans for a third runway at Heathrow Airport after the Government approved plans for a second runway at Gatwick.

Gatwick airport has been given the go-ahead to build a second runway, allowing it to operate more than 100,000 additional flights a year. What changed – and what does it mean for Heathrow ?

The UK government's climate change advisory panel has said it has not yet been asked to formally assess how plans to expand Heathrow airport would impact on carbon emissions targets.

Planning costs for London Heathrow’s third runway may surpass £1bn, with air passengers charged extra to balance expenditure.

The Arora Group has launched its Heathrow West proposal, promising a cost-effective, sustainable expansion with Bechtel and partners to enhance capacity and connectivity

The proposed expansion of Heathrow Airport stands as a defining test of this Government’s commitment to people, place, and the planet.

A majority of Labour members oppose the expansion of Heathrow Airport, exclusive polling by Survation for LabourList has revealed.

Asked to what extent, if at all, they supported or opposed the expansion, 52% said they either somewhat or strongly opposed it. This compared to just 27% who said they supported the expansion.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has launched a consultation on the approach to recovering early planning costs associated with the proposed expansion of Heathrow Airport. 

Heathrow Airport Ltd has asked the UK Civil Aviation Authority to consider allowing its early costs, associated with submitting proposals to the Government on Heathrow expansion, to be recovered through Heathrow’s charges to airlines using the airport.  The Arora Group has said that its early costs should be treated in the same way as those of Heathrow Airport Ltd.

London Heathrow Airport marked its busiest month ever in July, retaining its title as Europe’s most punctual hub while unveiling plans for significant expansion.

Heathrow expects an update from government on its third runway plans in the autumn as it hailed the seventh consecutive month as Europe’s “most punctual” airport.

The London hub reiterated that its expansion scheme includes an upgrade to the M25 motorway that can be delivered without disrupting traffic flows.

Three historic villages with listed buildings and residents who have lived there for four generations are set to be decimated by a third Heathrow runway.

Sipson, Harmondsworth and Harlington are the pretty little villages that will be destroyed once the government's plans to build a third runway at Heathrow airport begin. 

This is aviation’s equivalent of HS2, writes John McDonnell MP, while Nick Hodgkinson says a government serious about climate commitments should not allow any airport to expand.

As the airport pushes forward with a £50 billion third runway, airline chiefs warn of soaring fees, while cheaper alternatives and political resistance cast doubt over the project’s future.

Despite lingering questions, the financial case for expansion has reached a tipping point.

IAG warns price paid per passenger could double under airport’s plans to invest almost £50bn in expansion.

Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves are preparing to face down London mayor Sadiq Khan and Labour backbenchers to force through a third runway at Heathrow.

Plans submitted as big infrastructure projects form heart of government’s strategy to kickstart economic growth

Channel Four News Report on Arora Group’s proposal

Heathrow Airport has revealed details of its plan to expand and modernise the airport at a cost of £49bn. Thomas Woldbye, CEO of Heathrow Airport, said expansion was "urgent" as the airport was currently working at capacity, "to the detriment of trade and connectivity". The work would be funded by private finance.

Hotel tycoon Surinder Arora has announced he is submitting a Heathrow expansion plan which rivals a proposal from the airport's owners. The billionaire's Arora Group said the "primary benefit" of the plan it submitted to the government was a shorter new runway which would avoid the costly and disruptive need to divert the M25 motorway.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) today outlined the scope of a review into the regulatory framework for capacity expansion at Heathrow. It will explore how best to ensure the “efficient and timely delivery” of expansion plans while protecting the interests of consumers.

Heathrow Airport has unveiled a £10 billion investment plan to expand capacity, aiming to handle an extra 10 million passengers per year by 2031. The plan forms the core of the airport’s 2027–2031 business proposal, which was submitted to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on Friday.

Airlines have reacted angrily to Heathrow Airport's plans to raise passenger charges as part of its investment plan to handle an extra 10m passengers per year by 2031.

This is the first in a series of Labour Together papers, in collaboration with some of the country’s best experts, to provoke how we can reform the state. Every paper in this series starts with a hard problem and outlines the radical reforms that the government would need to pursue to solve them. 

Using Heathrow as a symbolic example, this paper - co-authored with the Centre for British Progress - looks at how the state could move more quickly to get Britain building.