Evening Standard: Does Britain still need a third runway at Heathrow?

07 November 2020

The airline industry is in unprecedented turmoil. People can’t fly, much, even if they felt safe to do so. 

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New Civil Engineer: Heathrow expansion rival claims extending runway is only ‘oven-ready’ proposal left

23 September 2020

Extending one of Heathrow Airport’s existing runways is the only feasible way left to expand Heathrow

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The Telegraph: Here is how to save Heathrow. Heathrow has spent profligately in recent years, but airlines and taxpayers cannot foot the bill now it’s in trouble.

17 September 2020

As if Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, does not have enough to worry about, here is something else: Heathrow airport needs rescuing.

The airport is owned by international financial institutions, including Ferrovial of Spain, the Qatar Investment Authority and USS, the British universities’ pension fund. Who is going to bail it out? The Civil Aviation Authority apparently thinks it should be passengers and airlines.

In its latest consultation the regulator said it is minded to grant Heathrow at least £550m of additional regulated capital via higher passenger fees to pay for expansion costs incurred so far, the “pausing” of the third runway and also legal fees.

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Financial Times: Heathrow shows detailed costings for third runway

22 January 2020

Heathrow shows detailed costings for third runway...

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Financial Times: Battle to block third runway at Heathrow resumes in court

22 January 2020

Battle to block third runway at Heathrow resumes in court...

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The Times: Third runway could result in lift-off for Heathrow airport’s passenger landing charges

23 December 2019

Passenger landing charges at Heathrow could increase by 25 per cent after a third runway is built despite a pledge to keep them unchanged. A business plan to be submitted to the aviation watchdog this week says that fees levied on airlines may rise by between 9.5 per cent and 25 per cent by 2029 to pay for better facilities. Heathrow insists that overall, costs for passengers are likely to fall dramatically because of the increased competition generated by the new runway. At least 260,000 more take-offs and landings a year will be possible when the airport expands, allowing low-cost carriers such as EasyJet to operate from Heathrow.

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The Times: Heathrow extension plans delayed by up to three years

20 December 2019

A new runway at Heathrow will be delayed by up to three years amid growing concerns that passengers could be hit with rising air fares. The Civil Aviation Authority said that it expected the third runway to open by 2029, subject to planning permission, rather than the original target of 2026, as a longer planning and construction period was needed to reduce upfront costs. The regulator said that there was a risk that loading the scheme with high initial costs would lead to them being passed on to passengers through higher airline landing charges and ultimately increased fares.

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The Times: Heathrow ordered by CAA to rein in third runway costs

01 December 2019

Heathrow will be penalised if it fails to build its £14bn third runway efficiently — the first time such a condition has been imposed on the airport. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has inserted a significant new clause into its licence, amid concerns that costs on the vast project will spiral out of control. Heathrow’s plans for the third runway are a complex feat of engineering that will see it straddle the M25. That has stoked a fear in airlines, including British Airways owner IAG, that rising costs will fall on passengers and make flying to and from the airport unaffordable.

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