Heathrow Expansion Debate Intensifies as Airlines Weigh In
The chief executive of British Airways has thrown his support behind plans to expand Heathrow Airport without moving the M25 motorway, creating a significant division within the aviation industry about the best approach to increasing capacity at Britain's busiest airport.
Sean Doyle, speaking at the Airlines 2025 conference in Westminster, stated he "can't argue against the logic" of building a third runway that avoids diverting the crucial motorway. His comments directly contrast with Heathrow Airport's own position that moving the M25 is essential for a full-capacity expansion.
Two Competing Visions for Heathrow's Future
The government is currently evaluating two distinct proposals for Heathrow's expansion. Heathrow Airport Holdings Limited, the airport's owner, has submitted plans for a full-length 3,500-metre runway that would require rerouting the M25 between Junctions 14 and 15 through an underground tunnel.
Meanwhile, the Arora Group has proposed an alternative scheme involving a shorter 2,800-metre runway that would eliminate the need to move the motorway entirely. This approach, according to the group, offers "reduced risk" and avoids "spiralling costs" associated with major infrastructure changes.
"If you can avoid moving the M25, you should avoid moving the M25," Mr Doyle told conference attendees. "I think we should look at ways of potentially building a shorter runway."
Heathrow's Counter-Argument for Full Expansion
Heathrow's chief executive Thomas Woldbye presented a contrasting view at the same event, insisting that moving the M25 is "not avoidable" if the airport is to achieve the necessary capacity boost that a third runway should deliver.
Mr Woldbye argued that a shorter runway would cost "almost the same" but provide "much less capacity," concluding that "it just does not make sense" from an efficiency perspective.
The airport's proposed tunnel would redirect traffic to the west of the current motorway alignment, with vehicles passing beneath the proposed new runway on the north side of the airport site.
What Expansion Would Mean for Heathrow
Heathrow's expansion plans are substantial in both scale and cost. The full proposal would enable an additional 276,000 flights per year, increasing the airport's capacity from the current 480,000 annual flights to 756,000.
The comprehensive plan includes:
- New passenger facilities
- Expanded terminal buildings
- Additional car parking areas
- Supporting infrastructure improvements
The total cost for Heathrow's preferred option is estimated at £49 billion, while the Arora Group claims their alternative would be more cost-effective.
The expansion has received political backing from Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who in January stated the case for expansion was now "stronger than ever."
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander is expected to announce which single scheme will be taken forward by the end of November, informing the remainder of her review of the Airports National Policy Statement that will provide the framework for decisions on airport growth.
