UK: Heathrow shows detailed costings for third runway

Heathrow Airport has for the first time laid out detailed costings for its contentious third runway expansion, including an option to spend an additional GBP3b over the first 15 years to improve rail links and passenger service. The airport has outlined 2 options as part of its initial business plan which it will submit this week to the CAA. The first plan focuses on savings and would allow the runway to open more quickly in 2028, while the second prioritises service and would require additional investment, delaying the runway opening for a further year. However, regardless of which option is chosen, airport charges are set to rise, an additional burden likely to face strong opposition from Heathrow’s airline customers. Heathrow’s fee per person is already one of the highest in the world. <br/>