Heathrow airport’s £33bn plan for third runway gets government go-ahead

November 25, 2025 at 11:17 AM•2 min read•Simon Calder

UK Greenlights Heathrow's £49B Third Runway. But Why Are Airlines Worried?

Key Points

1UK government greenlights Heathrow's £49 billion third runway expansion, projecting 79% passenger growth to 150 million annually.
2Airlines, including British Airways, express alarm over the £49 billion cost, fearing higher passenger charges at an already expensive airport.
3Environmental groups condemn the plan as "national self-harm," citing village demolitions and decades of construction disruption.
4Construction could begin by summer 2030, following updates to the Airports National Policy Statement and Development Consent Order approval.

The UK government has formally approved Heathrow Airport's contentious £49 billion expansion plan, which includes the construction of a third runway. This significant infrastructure project at the UK's busiest hub airport aims to dramatically increase capacity, with projections indicating a 57% rise in flight movements to over 2,000 daily and passenger numbers soaring by 79% to 150 million annually. UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander emphasized the project's role in bolstering trade, tourism, and job creation across the UK, setting a course for "quicker, quieter, and greener flights" by 2035.

However, the substantial £49 billion price tag, encompassing £21 billion for the new 3,500-meter runway and £12 billion for additional terminal infrastructure, has raised considerable concerns within the airline industry. Major carriers, including British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, fear that these costs will translate into even higher charges for passengers at an airport already recognized as one of the world's most expensive. While the UK government has backed Heathrow's official proposal as the "most deliverable option," it has left the door open for alternative promoters, such as Surinder Arora's "Heathrow West" plan, to potentially deliver the project, a move welcomed by Arora who advocates for regulatory reform and competition to control costs.

Environmental groups vehemently oppose the expansion, with the No 3rd Runway Coalition labeling the plan an "act of national self-harm." Their concerns highlight the demolition of villages, displacement of up to 15,000 residents, and decades of construction disruption, including tunneling over the M25 motorway. Despite these objections, the UK government is proceeding with updating the Airports National Policy Statement, a crucial step before a Development Consent Order can be approved, with ministers hoping for construction to commence within the current parliamentary term, potentially by summer 2030.