Key facts
- Prime Minister Andy Burnham has refused to back a third runway at Heathrow Airport.
- Heathrow Airport indicated the third runway might not be operational before 2039.
- The project is estimated to cost 33 billion.
- A third runway could increase the number of flights from Heathrow to 720,000 per year.
- Unite and GMB unions support the Heathrow expansion.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has declined to explicitly back a third runway at London Heathrow Airport, stating that the decision is primarily for Londoners to make and that he must consider the voices of those affected. Burnham, who previously opposed the project as Mayor of Greater Manchester due to concerns about investment in the north, indicated that a consultation is underway and differing views must be taken seriously.
Hewathrow Airport acknowledged the prime minister's stance and agreed that local voices are important, noting that public support for their expansion plans has been growing. The airport conceded that meeting the original 2035 opening deadline for the third runway is increasingly difficult and suggested it might not be operational before 2039, with hopes to secure planning permission by 2029 and open within a decade. The Department for Transport commented that the timeline had always been ambitious and pledged to continue working with stakeholders.
The 33 billion project has faced significant opposition from environmental campaigners and local residents, who would be displaced by the construction. However, it has garnered support from unions like Unite and the GMB, who see it as essential for job creation and economic growth. Proponents estimate the expansion could create 100,000 jobs and increase the number of annual flights from the current cap of 480,000 to 720,000.