Will Heathrow's third runway ever happen? And what will be lost if it does?
Plans to expand Heathrow Airport have been taxi-ing around for years without ever taking off. Heathrow is traditionally the busiest airport in Europe and the fourth busiest in the world by passenger numbers (2023 figures). Yet it only has two runways, and it was recently overtaken by Istanbul for number of passengers.
Airport bosses have long wanted to up capacity with a third runway, and business groups have been broadly supportive. Pitched against them are numerous campaign groups who oppose the expansion on environmental grounds, and for the damage it would do to neighbouring villages.
Recently, the saga took a swing towards the pro-runway camp, when erstwhile Chancellor Rachel Reeves indicated that the Labour government was supportive of a third runway. Yet momentum now seems to be building in the opposite direction, with the Mayor of London, Transport for London and several local councils declaring their formal opposition.
Here, we take a brief look at the current status of the plans, as well as the pros and cons of Heathrow expansion.
