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Heathrow Airport has received approval to increase charges to airlines in order to recoup the funds spent on the initial phases of its third runway project. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the UK’s aviation regulator, has authorized the airport to reclaim up to £320 million through higher fees per passenger. This rise in charges is expected to add approximately 15p to ticket prices by 2028, with a projected increase to around 30p in the years that follow.
Alongside Heathrow, the Arora Group’s Heathrow West proposal, which was a competing design featuring a shorter runway, will also recover £4.1 million in costs associated with the project. Both the CAA and Heathrow have confirmed that measures will be implemented to protect travelers from being unfairly burdened by these increased fees. Currently, the recovery of costs is limited to the early planning and design work carried out between 2025 and 2026.
Tim Johnson, the director of consumers and markets at the CAA, explained to the BBC that the “first tranche of costs, which is to help with the planning of this, can be recovered from passengers. That’s up to a maximum of £320m.” Additionally, Heathrow will be able to incorporate Heathrow West’s expenses up to November of the previous year into its airport charges. The regulator anticipates that these charges will contribute to the projected ticket price rises over the coming years.
Heathrow’s spokesperson highlighted the broader benefits of the runway project, stating, “This project is about making travel more affordable and giving passengers more choice, while providing a real economic boost to every region and nation of the country.” The government had earlier shown preference for Heathrow’s £33 billion proposal over Arora’s plan, noting that the airport’s scheme was “the most deliverable” and most likely to receive planning approval within the current parliamentary term. Despite this progress, the project has faced sustained opposition due to environmental concerns surrounding air and noise pollution, along with the potential violation of climate commitments. The government is aiming for a final planning decision by 2029
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