Heathrow Proposes £21bn Third Runway for 2035 Launch

Heathrow Airport has officially submitted its shovel-ready proposal for a 100% privately financed third runway, pledging to deliver the project within a decade if the UK Government approves the necessary policies and regulatory framework.

The £21 billion project would unlock 30 new routes, increase capacity to 150 million passengers across 756,000 flights annually, and boost UK GDP by 0.43%, with 60% of the benefits felt outside London and the South-East. Heathrow’s expanded capacity also promises lower fares, improved domestic connectivity, and a 50% increase in cargo capacity, strengthening the UK’s role as a global trading hub.

The plan features:

• A 3,500m north-western runway with Parliamentary support

• Brand-new “T5X” terminal plus three new satellite terminals

• Expanded Terminal 2 and phased Terminal 3 closure

• Enhanced public transport, including upgraded rail, cycling routes, and new parkways

• Net zero 2050 commitment with ongoing SAF adoption and noise and air quality targets

Heathrow CEO Thomas Woldbye called the project “a national mission for growth”, emphasizing that the airport is operating at full capacity and risks falling behind European competitors without expansion.

If the Government responds by September 2025, Heathrow expects to begin supply chain investment this year, submit planning in 2028, and have the runway operational by 2035.

Support has come from UK business coalitions, regional chambers of commerce, trade unions, and airlines like easyJet, citing the project’s potential to create tens of thousands of jobs, enhance regional connectivity, and secure the UK’s global hub status.