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Heathrow Airport has indicated that its ambitious plan to build a third runway may face a delay of up to four years due to challenges related to planning and regulatory approvals. The UK government had initially targeted 2035 for the opening of this new runway, which is expected to cost around £49 billion, making it a significant infrastructure investment. However, Heathrow now considers achieving this timeline increasingly unlikely without measures to streamline the planning process.
The airport expressed optimism about obtaining planning permission by 2029 and aims to have the runway operational within ten years from that point. Heathrow emphasized that its main scenario has consistently involved launching the new runway within a decade of securing the necessary approvals. The Department for Transport (DfT) acknowledged that the originally proposed timeline had been “always ambitious” but assured that it would work quickly alongside all relevant parties to push the project forward.
The initiative, backed by the government since January 2025 under former chancellor Rachel Reeves, has seen a shift in attitude from Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who had initially opposed the expansion but later described himself as “open-minded” about it. Despite strong opposition from environmental groups and residents living near the airport, the third runway is expected to generate approximately 100,000 jobs and significantly boost the UK economy. The construction would involve considerable disruption, including the demolition of hundreds of homes, the diversion of watercourses, and rerouting a section of the M25 motorway through a tunnel beneath the runway.
Currently, Heathrow’s flight operations are limited to 480,000 flights annually, but this figure could rise to as many as 720,000, translating to nearly 2,000 flights each day on average. However, London Mayor Sadiq Khan has remained firmly opposed to the project due to concerns over increased noise, air pollution, and its impact on climate change. A draft planning framework for the runway’s expansion was released for consultation in June, with the final version requiring parliamentary approval, which might be delayed until 2027.
A spokesperson for the Department for Transport clarified that no formal planning application has yet been submitted for the new runway and refrained from commenting on the ongoing consultation to avoid hindering progress. They reiterated the need to collaborate with Heathrow and other stakeholders swiftly to establish the right regulatory framework. Meanwhile, a Heathrow representative highlighted the benefits of the scheme, mentioning the creation of “at least 108,000 new jobs” and significant investments in supply chains nationwide. The spokesperson also underscored that the extension is a nationally important, fully privately funded project that would reinforce the UK’s role in the global economy once completed. Heathrow currently operates as the UK’s busiest airport, handling over 80 million passengers annually through its two runways and four terminals
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