Heathrow Third Runway Could Be Delayed Until 2039

LONDON: Heathrow Airport has said the opening of its planned third runway could be delayed until 2039, revising expectations for one of the United Kingdom’s largest infrastructure projects.

Heathrow said its focus remains on securing planning permission by 2029 and that, once approval is obtained, the new runway would be expected to open within a decade. The airport described its previous 2035 opening target as an ambitious timetable that would have required significant changes to regulations and government policy.

The British government backed the proposed third runway last year as part of efforts to expand airport capacity and support economic growth. Heathrow currently operates two runways and is regarded as one of the world’s busiest airports.

The airport’s broader expansion and upgrade programme has an estimated cost of £49 billion, including about £15 billion in previously planned upgrades. Construction of the third runway, the rerouting of the M25 motorway and development of a new terminal are estimated to account for about £33 billion of the programme.

The UK government has been consulting on a draft Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement, which would provide the planning framework for assessing future expansion proposals. The government has stressed that the draft policy statement itself does not constitute planning permission and that Heathrow would still need to submit a formal planning application through the statutory process.

The possible delay to 2039 therefore reflects the current planning and regulatory timetable rather than a final decision on the project’s completion date.