Heathrow CEO Laments Decade-Long Delay on Third Runway
London Heathrow, Europe's busiest airport, handled an average of 232,000 passengers daily in 2025, yet faces a growth forecast of less than 1% for 2026, reaching 85 million passengers. In an exclusive interview with The Independent, Heathrow's chief executive, Thomas Woldbye, expressed deep concern over the airport's constrained capacity.
"We are reaching the upper level of our capacity," Mr Woldbye stated. "We want to grow more. We are growing less than the market, which I think is a real problem for the economy and for the UK." This stagnation comes as Istanbul airport in Turkey is poised to surpass Heathrow as Europe's busiest hub in passenger numbers during 2026.
Urgent Call for Infrastructure Investment
Mr Woldbye emphasised the critical need for expansion, saying, "The third runway at Heathrow should have been built 10 years ago because we need it now. Now, we may get it in 10 years' time." He highlighted the airport's focus on accelerating the third runway project, which is part of a £50 billion infrastructure package aimed at modernising facilities.
The expansion plan includes:
- £21 billion for the runway itself, involving diversion of the M25 motorway.
- £12 billion for new terminal infrastructure.
- £15 billion for upgrading existing airport facilities.
Opposition and Financial Challenges
Despite the push for growth, the project faces significant opposition. Environmental groups and affected residents argue against the expansion. Dr Douglas Parr, policy director for Greenpeace UK, criticised ministers for "prioritising more leisure opportunities for a comparatively small group of frequent flyers," warning that "the rest of us have to live with the consequences of their disproportionate polluting."
Airlines also contend that Heathrow's plans are overly expensive, arguing that current passengers should not bear the cost of future infrastructure. This debate unfolds as Heathrow announced a one-third fall in annual earnings for 2025, despite operational improvements.
Operational Success Amidst Constraints
Mr Woldbye noted that Heathrow's passenger operations performed exceptionally well in 2025, with 98% of passengers waiting less than five minutes in security and a 50% reduction in mishandled bags. The airport claims to be Europe's most punctual hub, with 4.2 million more passengers flying on time compared to 2024.
However, without the third runway, Heathrow risks falling further behind global competitors, underscoring the urgent need for decisive action to support UK economic growth.
