Chancellor Rachel Reeves will back plans to grow Heathrow, Gatwick, and Luton airports in a speech next week, calling the move key to lifting the UK’s economy. The Treasury says bigger airports will draw more global firms and cut costs for airlines and cargo handlers.
Heathrow boss Thomas Woldbye has pushed ministers to set out their stance by late 2025, warning delays could block funds for a third runway. Gatwick and Luton have sped ahead in getting approvals, with Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander set to rule on Gatwick’s bid to turn its backup northern runway into a full-time one by 27 February.
Luton wants to raise its yearly passenger cap from 18 million to 32 million by 2030, backed by trade bodies like the British Chambers of Commerce, which claims airport upgrades will ease hurdles for small firms.
Campaigners Say Growth Harms Climate Goals
Green groups have slammed the plans, saying they clash with UK laws to hit net-zero emissions by 2050. Alethea Warrington of charity Possible pointed to data showing 15% of Britons take 70% of flights, arguing airport growth mostly helps richer, frequent flyers.
Friends of the Earth’s Jenny Bates accused ministers of ignoring aviation’s fast-rising carbon footprint. Heathrow’s third runway, cleared by MPs in 2018, stays divisive.
In 2020, the Court of Appeal stopped the project, saying it broke climate laws. Though the government insists growth must follow green rules, Reeves has put first economic gains, stating growth will steer choices.
Heathrow Pours £2.3 Billion into Upgrades
While waiting for a third runway decision, Heathrow has started a two-year overhaul to spruce up terminals. The £2.3 billion plan covers new baggage systems, wider security lanes, and bike paths between terminals.
Boss Thomas Woldbye called the work vital to rival hubs like Amsterdam’s Schiphol and Paris Charles de Gaulle. The airport has hired over 1,100 UK firms for the job, with £191 million spent last year to shorten security waits. Heathrow says the upgrades will let it handle 85 million flyers a year by 2030, up from 62 million in 2023.
Rule Changes Aim to Curb Legal Fights
Ministers are tweaking planning laws to limit court challenges against big projects. Under new rules, critics must speak their case in person, and judges can throw out weak appeals without full hearings.
Transport Secretary Alexander says the shifts will stop “nuisance” lawsuits from holding up work, but foes like London Mayor Sadiq Khan claim they weaken public say. Khan, who fights Heathrow growth over noise and pollution fears, has vowed new legal steps if the third runway gets the nod. His team reckons 300,000 more Londoners would face above-limit plane noise with more flights.
Labour Split Over Airport Plans
The row has widened splits in the Labour Party. Reeves and trade ministers stand by the plans as needed for jobs, while Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and backbenchers warn they risk climate aims. PM Keir Starmer, who voted no to Heathrow’s third runway in 2018, sidesteps direct clashes but stresses his team backs “both growth and net zero”.
Leaders outside London fear being left out, with Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham saying growing southern airports could starve rail funds for the north. Still, advisers think Labour’s bigger majority—boosted by 211 new MPs in 2024—will see the plans through.
With Gatwick’s deadline near, the government’s airport policy shows two paths for Britain. As Heathrow pushes upgrades and green groups gear up for protests, the tussle between cash and climate shows no end.
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