Heathrow Airport has recently announced that 81.5 million passengers travelled through its terminals over the past 12 months ending in May 2024.

This marks a significant increase compared to the 71.6 million who passed through Heathrow last year.

In May alone, the airport handled 7.2 million passengers, stating this is the first time May traffic has ever exceeded 7 million.

The airport expects a staggering 30 million passengers to pass through its terminals this summer.

Despite the increased passenger growth, Heathrow's plans to construct a third runway have faced numerous challenges and setbacks.

To give context, plans were initially approved by former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown back in 2009 but were subsequently scrapped by the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government a year later in 2010.

It wasn't until 2015 that Theresa May's government approved the plan after an Airport Commission investigated London's airport capacity issues.

Parliament eventually voted in favour of a third runway at London Heathrow in June 2018, with 415 to 119 MPs supporting the expansion.

Airside International Magazine Editor, William Hallowell, described the contentious issue as "a bit of a political football." He added, "It'll be interesting to see what the next government does about the Heathrow expansion, whoever wins the election in July.

“But given all the major parties' sustainability commitments, amidst aviation's own self-imposed net zero goals, climate campaigners are obviously going to be very critical of any entertainment of the idea of expansion,” explained William.

Primary challenges faced to go against the construction of a third runway are increased noise pollution and carbon emissions due to additional flights.

Arguments in favour of a third runway include an economic boost of up to £61 billion and the creation of up to 77,000 jobs, according to the Department for Transport’s (DfT) Moving Britain Ahead summary document.

City A.M. interviewed airport ground handling service provider, Menzies Aviation CEO, Philipp Joeinig, who expressed concerns and warned that airlines would begin to “look for alternatives” if passenger numbers rise and they cannot cope with growth at Heathrow.  

Speaking to City A.M. Phillip said: “That’s why I think that the third runway is a must, if the UK and Heathrow in particular want to continue to be a major hub, then capacity increases have to come.”

Commenting on the expansion the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport’s (CILT UK) Aviation Policy Chair, Paul Le Blond, said: “The Heathrow third runway plan has always been aligned with Net Zero for 2050, both in terms of policy and also the initial plans brought forward by the Airport.

“Of course, it is right that this should be tested, as it would be at any inquiry, he added.”

Paul further explained that some airlines have expressed frustration that plans are not currently proceeding, and others have accepted that it will never happen.

He referenced words from Director General of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Willie Walsh, who recently told The Times that a third Heathrow runway “won’t ever get off the ground.”

William Hallowell added: “Talking generally, there probably is a feeling of airlines' frustration. British Airways has already said it expects this summer to be the busiest post-Covid and demand for air travel is increasing.

“The airline said last week it wants to take on an additional 350 workers at Heathrow to mitigate some of the pressures of the summer travel season,” he added.

Heathrow’s third runway was last debated on October 26 last year with the government continuing to state that the expansion remains a private sector project.

Former Minister of State in the DfT, Jesse Norman, said in parliament: “To go ahead, it would be required to meet strict criteria on air quality, noise and climate change, as well as being privately financed.

“It is for any scheme promoter to decide when it submits a development consent order application as part of the statutory planning process.”

The CILT UK Aviation Policy Group are currently studying the matter as part of its review of the UK's National Policy Statement on Airports as set out in the institutes Pre-Election Manifesto Request, published earlier this year.