Heathrow urges Burnham to back third runway amid investor doubts
Heathrow chief executive Thomas Woldbye has urged Andy Burnham to back a third runway, warning that the airport’s investors may reconsider the £33 billion expansion if the Government does not provide greater certainty. The project matters because it is presented by Heathrow as a way to increase the UK’s global connections and export capacity, but it has faced concerns about drawing investment away from northern England.
Investors, including Qatar and Singapore sovereign wealth funds, are expected to decide in the new year whether to submit a formal planning application. A government policy framework must first be approved by MPs, with a vote expected by the end of next month; the earliest projected opening has slipped from 2035 to 2039. Heathrow reported 7.2 million passengers in September, down 2.3 per cent year on year, while cargo traffic rose 5 per cent; it says expansion could increase export capacity by 50 per cent and create 100,000 jobs.
- Heathrow wants Burnham to back its third runway.
- Investors may reassess the £33 billion plan without certainty.
- The earliest projected opening has moved to 2039.
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Heathrow Airport is planning a third runway as part of a £33 billion expansion project. This would significantly increase the airport's capacity to handle more passengers and cargo. The project needs approval from the Government and Parliament before construction can begin.
The expansion faces two main obstacles: political backing and investor certainty. The Government must approve a policy framework that Parliament will then vote on. Large investment funds from countries including Qatar and Singapore are ready to help fund the project, but they need clear Government support before committing their money.
The project matters because Heathrow claims it would increase UK export capacity by around 50 per cent and create up to 100,000 jobs. However, there are concerns that investing in this expansion could reduce investment in other regions, particularly the North of England. This is why leaders from those regions, such as Andy Burnham, are important to the project's progress.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The UK's economic competitiveness depends on world-class aviation infrastructure, and Heathrow expansion would strengthen the nation's global position as a financial and trading hub. The project promises substantial economic gains: a 50 per cent increase in export capacity and 100,000 jobs would benefit the entire country, including northern regions that depend on international trade and business connectivity. Delaying or blocking this investment risks ceding advantage to rival European airports and undermining the UK's attractiveness to global investors and businesses.
The case against
A £33 billion investment of this magnitude risks deepening regional inequality by concentrating resources in London when northern England urgently needs strategic economic development. The project's delays (from 2035 to 2039 opening date) and investor uncertainty suggest it faces genuine practical and financial challenges, making it imprudent for northern leaders to support it without equivalent government commitment to northern infrastructure and industries. Regional economies require direct investment in their own capabilities, not speculative trickle-down benefits from a south-based mega-project.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Heathrow boss warns investors ‘cannot wait forever’ as he urges Burnham to back third runway”.