Heathrow has revealed new investment in its existing terminals ahead of the push for a third runway.
Heathrow bosses are expected to confirm a multibillion-pound boost into the UK’s busiest airport – just hours after airlines criticised Heathrow for ‘failing’ passengers and operators due to declining quality.
Thomas Woldbye, the chief executive of Heathrow, is set to confirm the investment to fund upgrades and parts of the controversial expansion in a speech today.
The money will be used to increase the capacity of Terminals 2 and 5, reconfigure the layout of the airfield and boost bus and coach connections.
The boost will be funded entirely by private investment, Mr Woldbye will say.
He is expected to say that the investment programme will ‘upgrade existing infrastructure while laying the groundwork for a third runway, boosting UK investment and economic growth, with tangible benefits felt this year.’
The upgrades of existing terminal buildings will ‘enhance passenger experience, and improve resilience and sustainability,’ he will say.
The announcement is likely to be a win for the government as the investment project is set to rely on UK-made steel.
When Terminal 5 opened in 2008, it needed 80,000 tonnes of steel.
Heathrow is yet to submit its final plan to the government for development consent for the third runway and a new terminal, but Chancellor Rachel Reeves gave the green light to the plans in January.
Mr Woldbye confirmed that Heathrow will submit the final plans for the third runway this summer.
Proposals show that the third runway would be built on top of most of Harmondsworth and Longford north of the existing runway.
The new runway would cross over the M25, with parts of the motorway redirected through a tunnel.
proposed Heathrow expansion (Picture: METRO)
With the third runway, Heathrow could see up to 140 million passengers a year.
Advocates of the third runway said it would grow the British GDP by 0.43% by 2050.
However, campaigners have criticised the expansion, with climate advocates calling it a ‘catastrophic misstep’ for the government that would not be in line with the net zero target.
Mr Woldbye insisted that the expansion will be carried out ‘responsibly’ because of ‘strict environmental safeguards.’
Justine Bayley, the chair of Stop Heathrow Expansion and a resident of Harmondsworth, told Metro previously that the Chancellor gave ‘fairly meaningless assurances that all environmental aspects will be met.’
Up to 700 homes, pubs and a school are at risk of being demolished to make way for the runway.
Residents have said they have been unable to sell their homes or get mortgages due to the expansion which has been looming in the pipeline since 2009. There are also concerns over increased noise if the third runway is built.
January was the busiest month ever for Heathrow, with more than 6.3 million passengers travelling through its terminals – up from 6 million last year.
This year, around 84.2 million passengers are set to travel through Heathrow.
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