Heathrow Revives Third Runway Plans, Proposes £48bn Expansion

Heathrow Airport has put forward plans for a third runway and expanded terminal facilities, aiming to increase capacity to 150 million passengers annually by 2035. The primary proposal includes a 3,500-meter runway, a new terminal 'T5X', and extensive modernization, with an estimated cost rising to £48 billion due to inflation and infrastructure challenges. The Arora Group has proposed an alternative, smaller 2,800-meter runway and a new Terminal 6, emphasizing lower costs, reduced disruption, and earlier completion. While Heathrow's CEO stresses the urgency of expansion to maintain the airport's global hub status and economic benefits, airlines express concern over the potential passenger cost burden, and environmentalists warn of the negative impact. The debate also involves technical considerations such as the necessity and feasibility of runway length, with some experts favoring the Arora Group's proposal for its practicality and lower expense. The project faces uncertainty over which proposal will be approved and the likelihood of completion by 2035, given historical delays in airport expansions.