Heathrow Expansion: Britain's Runway to Growth

The UK could be the world's leading aviation hub. Heathrow is one of our greatest national assets. But it is being held back, with consequences for UK growth: the airport is arguably the most capacity-constrained transport hub in the world.

The new Labour government recognises the economic opportunity of expanding Heathrow, and has set out four tests. Expansion should be (1) compatible with the UK's climate change commitments, (2) not worsen local noise pollution, (3) not worsen air pollution, and (4) provide economic benefit to all parts of the UK.

These tests can be met, but only if conditions are attached to expansion. The government should not delay in clarifying its conditions and should consider introducing a hybrid bill to Parliament to fast-track expansion.

Even with unabated airport expansion, the UK is on track to have the lowest per capita emissions of any major economy by 2030. Extra emissions could be mitigated by switching just 0.9% of the UK's petrol cars to electric vehicles each year.

UK aviation can hit net zero by 2050 through a combination of fleet upgrades, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), nature based carbon sequestration, carbon capture and storage (CCS) and other carbon offsets.

There are several options for addressing noise and air pollution, such as by enabling greater restrictions on night time flights and reducing the number of early morning and late evening flights. Heathrow could also ban or financially penalise the noisiest engines, and redraw landing routes.