Supporters say the move is vital for UK competitiveness and future connectivity.
Critics question the environmental and community impact.
So what does this decision really mean for Britain’s place in global aviation? And what happens if we don’t expand?
Aviation expert and special advisor to the Secretary General of UN Tourism, Anita Menderrata, speaks to The Standard’s Tech and Science Daily podcast to help unpack the story.
The expansion of Heathrow, namely the addition of a third runway, is incredibly important to the UK as a whole.
Not just Heathrow, because it strengthens the competitiveness of the UK both in terms of travel and tourism, but also importantly trade.
A computer image of an expanded Heathrow Airport after the third runway has been built
Heathrow
Any airport that operates will have a busyness factor. It’s all about the efficiency of how the busyness is managed, and this is where airport operations, airlines, and air traffic control needs to come in incredibly effectively.
So the beauty of adding in a third runway, which will only be operational in 2035, is that you can actually elevate the efficiency of the aircraft taking off and landing rather than having the risk of bottlenecks, because you now have the flexibility of a third runway, especially if for any reason any of the other runways come into any operational challenges.
The net effect will be very good because when it comes to a project like this, which is core infrastructure for a nation, it’s always about the opportunity cost. It’s not just should we; it’s if we don’t make this investment, what will this mean for the UK economy, for all of its productivity and its identity?
So there is potentially some big national upside, but what about the people living around the airport?
If we look at other airports in the world, whether it’s JFK, Charles de Gaulle, Schiphol, those are in high density areas. Heathrow has the benefit of being outside of central London, so it actually has the environment around it to be able to stretch with minimal disruption.
Any community living on the edges effectively of an airport is going to be impacted by growth of the airport, and it’s understandable that there’s frustration.
The consultation process and the engagement process with the local community is vital, so they actually understand the benefits of this, not only some potential hardships they may face.
Lib Dem MPs gathered in Westminster to oppose a third Heathrow runway
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From the middle of next year, the public consultation process is going to begin. Heathrow is needing to put through not just an economic impact assessment, but an environmental and a social impact assessment that will allow the casemaking to be clear, because once again it’s about the opportunity cost of if we don’t do this. Communities might stay in place, but there will be a limitation to their own growth.
It’s very important that Heathrow as an airport establishment and the ecosystem around it work very closely with the community ecosystem so it’s very clear the benefits. Equally, communities must be able to voice concerns they might have, in order to have those concerns answered.
But more planes equals more pollution, right? What are the environmental implications of adding a new runway to Heathrow Airport?
What’s very important is that the expansion of Heathrow and the third runway actually strengthens the UK’s ability when it comes to reaching net zero by 2050.
Not only is it more effective operations of the runway, it’s going to be a completely electric powered terminal itself.
It’s using much more efficient air traffic control, and it’s bringing in the aircraft that are allowed to utilise a sustainable aviation fuel, which cuts emissions by 80%.
There will be higher traffic flows of people. But a third runway that allows for larger aircraft could actually mean fewer aircraft taking off with more people and cargo rather than increasing the number of smaller aircraft.
There will be higher traffic flows of people at an expanded Heathrow Airport
PA Archive
The interesting thing, and something that is often completely underestimated and under-celebrated, is how much the aviation industry per se is at the forefront of innovation in sustainable engineering for all other industries.
The investment that aviation has been putting into sustainability for decades now and the billions that have gone into it have gone into other modes of transport have gone into other industries. So in many ways aviation almost becomes an incubator for innovation itself.
So much learning from the Heathrow expansion will be cascaded through the UK as a whole. So this is very important.
So ironically, while people might question why aviation is not damaging to the environment, it’s actually going to help the environment because it’s going to catapult the UK’s ability to continue to grow through essential aviation, but through smart green aviation that works towards net zero by 2050.