Latest news with #HeathrowExpansion
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Heathrow Airport expansion 'essential' after busiest May
Heathrow says expansion of the airport is "essential", after experiencing its busiest May on than 7.2 million passengers travelled through its four terminals last month, up 0.4% from a year ago.A Heathrow spokesperson said: "As these record numbers become the norm, it's time to start an honest conversation about the challenges this presents for an already space-constrained yet highly efficient hub."Opponents of the west London airport's expansion say increasing air travel would make it much harder for the UK to meet its climate change commitments. The Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, opposes a third runway at Heathrow for this reason as well as because of noise and air pollution. Heathrow's spokesperson said: "Heathrow continues to deliver excellent service, but to sustain this performance and meet future demand, expanding capacity will be essential."The airport has previously said it will submit detailed plans for building a third runway to the government in the Rachel Reeves used a speech on growth in January to give her support to the project, which has been repeatedly delayed over several decades because of environmental concerns. Friends of the Earth has previously described the expansion plans as "hugely irresponsible".Alethea Warrington, head of aviation at climate charity Possible, said in January: "This huge increase in emissions won't help our economy, and would just encourage the small group of frequent flyers who take most of the flights."People living in nearby Harmondsworth told the BBC earlier this year that if the expansion plans went ahead, "three-quarters of the village would be demolished" and it would no longer be a "viable community".
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Heathrow issues fresh expansion plea after record-breaking month
Heathrow Airport is advocating for an 'open conversation' regarding expansion plans following a record-breaking month for passenger traffic. In May, the airport saw over 7.2 million passengers pass through its terminals. That was a 0.4 per cent increase from the previous year and the highest number ever recorded for the month. A Heathrow spokesperson highlighted the need for proactive planning. 'As these record numbers become the norm, it's time to start an honest conversation about the challenges this presents for an already space-constrained yet highly efficient hub,' they said. "Heathrow continues to deliver excellent service, but to sustain this performance and meet future demand, expanding capacity will be essential." The airport has previously said it will submit detailed plans for building a third runway to the Government in the summer. Chancellor Rachel Reeves used a speech on growth in January to give her support to the project, which has been repeatedly delayed over several decades because of environmental concerns. Ms Reeves said it would potentially create 100,000 jobs. However, Labour transport committee chair Ruth Cadbury, London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan and party donor Dale Vince have all criticised her decision. Sir Sadiq said he remains opposed to the plan because of the 'severe impact it will have on noise, air pollution and meeting our climate change targets'. In February, Heathrow's chief executive Thomas Woldbye announced a multi-billion pound investment to expand terminals 2 and 5, reconfigure the layout of the airfield, and improve bus and coach connections. He said the UK 'risks losing its status as a global trading hub' if the airport does not grow. The third runway is 'critical for the country's future economic success', Mr Woldbye said. 'Heathrow is proud to answer the chancellor's call to get Britain building. 'This is vital investment and will ensure Heathrow remains globally competitive and a jewel in the country's crown.'
The Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Heathrow issues fresh expansion plea after record-breaking month
Heathrow Airport is advocating for an 'open conversation' regarding expansion plans following a record-breaking month for passenger traffic. In May, the airport saw over 7.2 million passengers pass through its terminals. That was a 0.4 per cent increase from the previous year and the highest number ever recorded for the month. A Heathrow spokesperson highlighted the need for proactive planning. 'As these record numbers become the norm, it's time to start an honest conversation about the challenges this presents for an already space-constrained yet highly efficient hub,' they said. "Heathrow continues to deliver excellent service, but to sustain this performance and meet future demand, expanding capacity will be essential." The airport has previously said it will submit detailed plans for building a third runway to the Government in the summer. Chancellor Rachel Reeves used a speech on growth in January to give her support to the project, which has been repeatedly delayed over several decades because of environmental concerns. Ms Reeves said it would potentially create 100,000 jobs. However, Labour transport committee chair Ruth Cadbury, London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan and party donor Dale Vince have all criticised her decision. Sir Sadiq said he remains opposed to the plan because of the 'severe impact it will have on noise, air pollution and meeting our climate change targets'. In February, Heathrow 's chief executive Thomas Woldbye announced a multi-billion pound investment to expand terminals 2 and 5, reconfigure the layout of the airfield, and improve bus and coach connections. He said the UK 'risks losing its status as a global trading hub' if the airport does not grow. The third runway is 'critical for the country's future economic success', Mr Woldbye said. 'Heathrow is proud to answer the chancellor's call to get Britain building. 'This is vital investment and will ensure Heathrow remains globally competitive and a jewel in the country's crown.'
The Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Heathrow says record demand shows ‘honest conversation' is needed on expansion
Heathrow airport has called for 'an honest conversation' about expansion after another record month for passenger numbers. More than 7.2 million passengers travelled through its four terminals last month. This was up 0.4% from a year ago and represents its busiest May on record. A Heathrow spokesperson said: 'As these record numbers become the norm, it's time to start an honest conversation about the challenges this presents for an already space-constrained yet highly efficient hub. 'Heathrow continues to deliver excellent service, but to sustain this performance and meet future demand, expanding capacity will be essential.' The airport has previously said it will submit detailed plans for building a third runway to the Government in the summer. Chancellor Rachel Reeves used a speech on growth in January to give her support to the project, which has been repeatedly delayed over several decades because of environmental concerns.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Billionaire takes on Heathrow with plan for cut-price expansion
A billionaire hotel entrepreneur is spearheading a rival proposal to expand Heathrow, as he vows to deliver the project more cheaply than the airport would. Surinder Arora is drawing up plans for the project after Mike Kane, the aviation minister, said last week that the Government was open to alternative bids to build a third runway. As one of the biggest landowners at Heathrow through his eponymous property empire, Mr Arora has teamed up with US engineering giant Bechtel to forge ahead with his development bid. 'The Government has asked for submissions this summer and we will be there,' he told The Telegraph. Mr Arora welcomed the comments from Mr Kane, who has confirmed that ministers had 'asked for Heathrow or a third party' to present alternative runway proposals. 'It's exactly what we've been asking for,' said Mr Arora, who previously led a rival expansion bid in 2018. 'We have said previously that we could do Heathrow between 32pc and 34pc cheaper,' he said. 'Obviously, times have moved on, but I think we will look to push on that. 'We can deliver the whole thing, and without a shadow of a doubt, we'd build it cheaper than Heathrow Airport Limited. 'This will give the airlines and passengers the chance to make a choice.' Mr Arora signalled that he has already enlisted hundreds of consultants to work on the project, which could include plans for a shorter third runway. However, he has vowed to listen to what airlines want before submitting his proposal. The possibility of a shorter airstrip at Heathrow has emerged as a potential alternative to the airport's more ambitious plans, which some claim could cost up to £ a runway could both slash costs and shave years off the project's completion date by removing the need to divert the M25, Britain's busiest motorway, under the new strip. Like Mr Arora, Heathrow is also working on a proposal. But this is expected to include plans for a full-length runway. While that blueprint is enshrined in an Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS) adopted by Parliament in 2018, estimated costs are understood to have swelled from £14bn at 2014 prices to between £42bn and £63bn. A truncated runway would impose limits on the planes able to use it, but would nevertheless find favour with airlines that have pushed back against paying for the pricier option. The boss of one major carrier, speaking at the IATA industry gathering in Delhi last week, said the latest costing for the full-scale plan would require what he called an 'eye-watering' increase in ticket prices of between £75 to £100. Sir Tim Clark, head of Emirates, the world's biggest long-haul airline, said at the same event that he was against diverting the M25 and would back a shorter runway 'for landing purposes or single-aisle aircraft, anything to declutter what's there'. Heathrow Reimagined, a campaign group that includes British Airways (BA) and Virgin Atlantic, said it 'welcomes competition and alternative proposals designed to increase capacity at the airport more efficiently'. BA, which operates about half of the flights at Heathrow, declined to specify its favoured option but said 'a solution should consider the airport boundaries, runway length, total project cost and the impact on consumers.' Willie Walsh, the former chief of parent group IAG, said in 2017 that spanning the motorway would add unnecessary cost and complexity. 'Airlines were never consulted on the runway length and they can operate perfectly well from a slightly shorter runway,' he said. According to stipulations in the ANPS, Heathrow's third runway should have a length of 'at least 3,500m' that would be able to handle 260,000 extra flights or more each year. However, a strip measuring 3.2km could accommodate 90pc of flights, according to the boss of a UK airline speaking at the same event in India, who described the prospect of diverting the M25 as 'scary'. Heathrow's northern runway stretches for 3.9km, making it the longest active landing airstrip in the UK, while the southern one measures almost 3.7km. Reports in March suggested that Heathrow itself was looking seriously at modifying its pending submission to the Government to feature a shorter runway in order to cut costs. However, Heathrow chief Thomas Woldbye denied that it was the case, saying that he intended to deliver the longer runway specified and that ripping up the busiest two-mile stretch of the M25 could not be avoided. What remains unclear is how much weight the Government will give to reducing delivery costs versus the extra time in planning that a radical alternative to the previous proposals might require. Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, said in January she wanted to see 'spades in the ground' on the project before the next general election and the start of flights by 2035. Departing from the requirements of the ANPS could mean that the planning process would be lengthier. The outcome of a Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) review of Heathrow's mechanism for charging airlines in the context of the third runway will also be of fundamental importance. Heathrow Reimagined is pressing ministers to abandon rules under which money spent on the airport can be charged directly to airlines through increased fees. While those fees are regulated by the CAA, carriers say the system provides no incentive for Heathrow to wring efficiencies from infrastructure projects. In his comments, reported in the London Standard, Mr Kane declined to say if Heathrow shareholders, airlines or passengers should foot the bill. Meanwhile, a Labour insider said Mr Kane's comments were intended to convey a willingness to introduce competition into the runway process, rather than a pledge to do so. However, it appears the ball may already be rolling. 'Heathrow is a huge business, and competition is a good thing,' said Mr Arora. 'We're not here to slow or delay things. We will do whatever is necessary.' The Department for Transport said that while Heathrow Airport had previously been deemed the only credible party able to deliver the runway project in its entirety, it remains open-minded and will treat other proposals fairly. A spokesman said: 'There is no live planning application for Heathrow expansion at present, but when plans come forward, we will ensure any expansion is assessed against the Government's legal, carbon and environmental obligations.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. 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