Airline executives have called on the incoming government under Andy Burnham to ensure that the planned expansion of Heathrow Airport is delivered in an affordable and competitive manner. The expansion includes the construction of a third runway, a project currently proposed by Heathrow’s owners as a £49 billion privately financed scheme intended to nearly double the airport’s capacity by 2035.

Luis Gallego, chief executive of IAG—which owns British Airways, Iberia, and Aer Lingus—Corneel Koster, chief executive of Virgin Atlantic, and Nigel Wicking, chief executive of Heathrow AOC, an organization representing more than 90 airlines and ground handlers, warned that without regulatory reform, the costs associated with Heathrow’s development could exceed £100 billion over the next 25 years. Such an outcome, they argue, would burden passengers with additional charges estimated to be £50 or more per flight, effectively raising the cost of travel at the UK’s busiest airport.

Heathrow’s ownership is split among sovereign wealth funds from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and China, alongside the French infrastructure group Ardian and the Australian Retirement Trust. The airlines’ executives emphasized the need for regulatory measures including a cap on airport charges and the introduction of competition to better serve passengers’ interests. They also urged the creation of an independent body to review major spending decisions and hold relevant parties, including Heathrow Airport Limited, accountable.

The expansion project, supported by the UK government though still awaiting formal approval, would require moving a section of the M25 motorway to accommodate the new runway. The government recently updated the Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement, underscoring the significance of the proposal for UK aviation and economic activity. Heathrow is not only Britain’s primary passenger hub but also a key gateway for freight, handling over a quarter of the UK’s export value by air.

The airline leaders linked the affordability of the expansion to the competitiveness of British aviation, highlighting that one in ten jobs in the UK are connected to the sector. They cautioned that failing to address the regulatory framework could lead to higher costs that drive traffic and demand to alternative airports, potentially undermining the country’s global connectivity.

The group called for collaboration between the government, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), airlines, and other stakeholders to create a regulatory environment that prevents cost overruns by placing financial risk on the developer rather than passengers. This approach, they argue, would help avoid issues like those seen with other large infrastructure projects, such as HS2 and the Lower Thames Crossing, which have been criticized for delays and escalating costs.

In summary, airline executives are urging the government and regulatory bodies to ensure Heathrow’s third runway expansion is executed with strong oversight, competitive safeguards, and cost controls to safeguard passengers and the wider economy while delivering increased airport capacity by 2035.