Heathrow's £33bn plan for third runway gets go-ahead

Ministers have given their blessing to Heathrow's controversial £49bn expansion plan at the UK's busiest hub airport, including a third runway.

- SIMON CALDER TRAVEL CORRESPONDENT

The “resilient and efficient” project could see flight movements grow by 57 per cent to more than 2,000 per day, with passenger numbers rising 79 per cent to 150 million. The government says it will “enable quicker, quieter, and greener flights to take off from a new runway by 2035”.

The transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, said: “Heathrow is our only hub airport which supports trade, tourism and hundreds of thousands of jobs, underpinning prosperity not only in the southeast but across the UK. Today is another important step to enable a third runway and build on these benefits, setting the direction for the remainder of our work to get the policy framework in place for airport expansion.

This will allow a decision on a third runway plan this parliament, which meets our key tests, including on the environment and economic growth. We’re acting swiftly and decisively to get this project off the ground so we can realise its transformational potential for passengers, businesses, and our economy sooner.”