Heathrow airport plans to spend £21 billion on third runway construction

Heathrow airport, located in the United Kingdom, has unveiled a proposal to construct a third runway at a projected cost of £21 billion, aimed at significantly increasing its flight and passenger capacity. The new runway, measuring 3,500 meters, would be positioned to the north-west of the existing airport infrastructure. This expansion plan includes provisions for an additional 276,000 flights per year, raising the airport's total from 480,000 to 756,000, and an increase in terminal capacity to accommodate 150 million annual passengers, up from the current 84 million. A new terminal complex, referred to as T5XW and T5XN, is included in the ambitious project, which also involves extending Terminal 2 and the demolition of Terminal 3 and the old Terminal 1. Despite the airport's confidence in managing the funding privately, concerns have been raised by airlines regarding potential increases in passenger charges as a consequence of the expansion costs. The proposal has attracted various reactions from stakeholders and campaigners. EasyJet's chief executive, Kenton Jarvis, highlighted the potential for his airline to operate from Heathrow at scale for the first time, which could lead to lower fares for consumers. In contrast, climate advocates such as Tony Bosworth from Friends of the Earth have raised alarms about how the expansion aligns with the UK’s climate commitments, arguing that a third runway represents a considerable risk to environmental goals. The debate is complicated by local government scrutiny, and city officials are expected to examine the proposal closely, as expressed by Jarvis, who stated he is keeping all options available in responding to the plans. Additionally, a competing expansion plan has been proposed by hotel magnate Surinder Arora, which suggests a shorter, 2,800-meter runway to mitigate the need for rerouting the M25 motorway. This alternative plan emphasizes reduced risk and potentially lower costs associated with the project. The government will assess these proposals in relation to the Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS) and will begin reviewing this statement later in the year, acting as a foundational guideline for any development consent order that may be applied for. The Conservative shadow transport secretary, Richard Holden, has voiced his support for UK infrastructure investments but underscored that this type of venture must remain privately funded. He cautioned against any financial liabilities being placed on taxpayers if the project encounters budgetary overruns or financial challenges. As discussions progress and various stakeholders weigh in, the unfolding debate surrounding Heathrow's expansion reflects broader concerns about balancing economic growth, environmental stewardship, and public interests in the realm of aviation.