Heathrow north-west runway: around the UK
Published 25 October 2016
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The initial draft Airports National Policy Statement consultation closed in May 2017. This information is no longer current.
The Airports Commission found that a northwest runway at Heathrow would mean more daily short-haul and long-haul destinations from UK airports.
Scotland
Expansion provides the opportunity for airlines to provide more direct flights between Scotland and Heathrow, as there will be less commercial pressure to cut domestic services in order to fit more international flights into their schedules.
In 2040, compared to no expansion, around an extra 980,000 passengers will make one-way trips to, or from, Scotland using international connections offered by an expanded Heathrow. Approximately 600,000 of these additional trips will be to long haul destinations and roughly 60,000 of these will be for business, rather than leisure. Some of these passengers would have travelled without expansion, but not via Heathrow. The increased capacity at Heathrow will mean that passengers have the opportunity to take advantage of new destinations, extra seats and increased frequency of service.
Heathrow is currently at full capacity. Without intervention, the Airports Commission’s forecasts showed that Heathrow was at risk of losing all of its direct services to Scotland by 2040.
Heathrow currently serves 4 Scottish routes (Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness and Aberdeen). With expansion, Heathrow says these routes will be protected and increase in frequency, with an additional Scottish route to Prestwick expected to be added by 2030.
Around 95% of Heathrow’s freight is transported in the hold of passenger planes. Expansion would provide many more passenger services, with the potential to carry more freight, helping Scottish products get to export markets across the globe. Heathrow’s biggest export by tonnage in 2014 was fresh and chilled salmon, £290 million of which was exported to non-EU countries, and the majority of which was sourced from Scotland.
Northern Ireland
In 2040, compared to no expansion, around an extra 130,000 passengers will make one-way international trips to, or from, Northern Ireland using domestic flights to access Heathrow’s international connections. Approximately 50,000 of these additional trips will be to long haul destinations. Some of these passengers would have travelled without expansion, but not via Heathrow. The increased capacity at Heathrow will mean that passengers have the opportunity to take advantage of new destinations, extra seats and increased frequency of service.
Heathrow currently serves Belfast City Airport. With expansion, Heathrow says this route will be protected and increase in frequency, with an additional route to Belfast International added by 2030.
Wales
In 2040, compared to no expansion, around an extra 390,000 passengers will make one-way trips to, or from, Wales using international connections offered by an expanded Heathrow. Approximately 80,000 of these additional trips will be to long haul destinations and roughly 90,000 of these will be for business, rather than leisure. Some of these passengers would have travelled without expansion, but not via Heathrow. The increased capacity at Heathrow will mean that passengers have the opportunity to take advantage of new destinations, extra seats and increased frequency of service.
A vibrant UK aviation sector benefits Wales too, with its highly skilled aerospace workforce including the Airbus factory at Broughton, making wings for half the world’s commercial aircraft.
Around the UK
The extra number of passengers making one-way trips to, or from, English regions, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland using international connections offered by an expanded Heathrow in 2040 compared to no expansion.