Audio By Carbonatix
London’s Heathrow airport aims to boost capacity even before a new runway opens, with the rejigging of the way two existing landing strips are used to add 25,000 aircraft movements a year.
The project, revealed Tuesday as part of a consultation process on the 16 billion-pound ($20 billion) third runway, may stir controversy at Europe’s busiest airport due to added disruption to local residents years before the planned infrastructure comes into use in 2026. The extra flights would represent about 5 percent more than a current cap.
A key change would allow jets to use existing runways for both landing and take offs in the same direction from 2022, breaking from an arrangement that sees one used for arrivals and the other for departures.
While that would boost punctuality, “flight paths could overfly areas that are not affected by Heathrow arrivals today,” the airport said in the study on proposed airspace changes.
Heathrow also proposes that a limit of 480,000 flights a year from the existing runways be scrapped once planning permission for the third strip is received. That would allow about 5 percent more flights, depending on terms of noise and night-flight curbs that have yet to be agreed. The third runway itself will lift annual capacity by almost 75 percent to 135 million travelers.
The London hub has been close to capacity since the start of the decade, squeezing in more passengers only because airlines are moving to bigger jets. Enlarging the airport will be crucial to the U.K. economy, especially in the wake of Brexit, the government has said.
Other proposals detail how flights could alternate from the three future runways to best manage noise and offer periods of respite. Detailed plans for the new strip and physical infrastructure will be revealed in June.
Latest Stories
-
The group of X platform content creators has no political affiliation – BoG clarifies
3 minutes -
Vice President urges BECE candidates to stay confident and honest
11 minutes -
Ukrainian drone hits upmarket Moscow high-rise ahead of Victory Day celebrations
13 minutes -
‘He’s an amazing player’ – Kofi-Kyereh on playing with Thomas Partey
34 minutes -
Experts debate Bank of Ghana losses and policy impact on Super Morning Show
34 minutes -
8 teachers, invigilators convicted over 2025 BECE malpractice — Education Minister
39 minutes -
From Pulpit to Timeline: The ‘Generational Curse’ Sermon That Broke Ghana’s Internet
43 minutes -
BoG financial position raises credibility concerns ahead of IMF programme exit — Prof Bokpin
50 minutes -
DVLA records 67% revenue surge in first quarter of 2026
56 minutes -
Senyo Hosi: The BoG ‘loss’ that saved the economy
1 hour -
We remain policy solvent despite GH¢15.6bn operating loss and negative equity – BoG
1 hour -
ECOWAS clashes with Ghana over new airport taxes, warns of damage to regional aviation
1 hour -
Oppong Nkrumah urges urgent BoG recapitalisation, warns against political interference
1 hour -
DJ Mensah elevates Ghana’s music scene with PlayHouse Studio launch
1 hour -
NPP national youth wing sends best wishes to 2026 BECE candidates
2 hours