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Wed, 14 Oct 2026

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 Not building third runway would be 'huge missed opportunity', warns Heathrow boss

Thomas Woldbye tells the Today progamme it would be "good to know" the government's position on the project, after comments made by the prime minister.
Heathrow serves over 80 million passengers per year and the additional traffic from a new runway could lead to a huge surge in revenue for the airport's owners. Woldbye claimed that expanding Heathrow would provide a "huge economic boost" and create jobs, with £40 billion in economic benefits across the country. The project has been debated for decades and has proved controversial due to opposition from local residents, politicians, and climate campaigners. The estimated cost of building the third runway is around £33bn. Heathrow's owners include a consortium of investors including French private equity firm Ardian, Qatar Investment Authority, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, and China Investment Corporation. Woldbye said that he hoped Prime Minister Andy Burnham would come out in support of the project, which has been backed by unions. He also stated that a third runway was not just for Londoners, but would benefit the country as a whole due to its supply chain reaching across the UK. The Department for Transport is reviewing responses to a consultation and considering the next steps, with the government supporting airport expansion where it can contribute to growth and opportunity while meeting environmental tests.