HEATHROW passengers to face DECADES of higher fares as the airport is set to recoup costs of its multi-billion expansion plans.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) confirmed the UK’s biggest airport will be able to recover up to £320million that
Heathrow flights will be more expensive for decades Credit: Getty
Costs of the Heathrow expansion will be passed onto passengers Credit: Alamy
The maximum airport charger per passenger will be about 15p in 2028, rising to an estimated 30p in subsequent years.
The higher airline charges, which will be built into the cost of flights, will last for about 20 to 25 years.
a rival expansion scheme led by property billionaire Surinder Arora, has been given the go-ahead to recoup £4.1 million it spent on its plan in 2025 up to November 25, despite it not giving the go-ahead.
HAL’s scheme is estimated to cost £33billion, and is expected to be fully privately financed.
It would see Heathrow’s annual capacity increase to 756,000 flights and 150million passengers.
, the largest airline at Heathrow, warned that early cost recovery by HAL would create a risk that expansion will be “unaffordable for consumers and inconsistent with a credible benefits case”, according to a CAA document.
Airlines have repeatedly complained that Heathrow has the highest charges of any airport in the world.
Tim Johnson, the CAA’s director of consumers and markets, said: “Our decision strikes a balance between supporting the delivery of benefits to consumers through timely progress on Heathrow expansion, whilst also protecting them from undue increases in costs.
“The costs Heathrow can recover are capped, independently scrutinised and subject to efficiency reviews, helping ensure that passengers only pay for efficient costs that are justified.”
A separate process will be conducted to decide arrangements for costs incurred from 2027.
HAL’s scheme is estimated to cost £33billion, including £1.5 billion to move the M25 Credit: Alamy
Last month, the Government launched a consultation on its Heathrow expansion national policy statement, setting out the conditions needed if the project is to be given the go-ahead.
Former chancellor said she was determined to get “spades in the ground” for the third runway which is set to be built by 2035.
However Prime Minister previously expressed concerns over Heathrow expansion, stating the plans divert infrastructure investment “away from the North and traps it in London”.
A Heathrow spokesperson said the project will give passengers more choice while providing a “real economic boost to every region and nation of the country”.
He went on: “We have been clear from the start that unlocking the private investment that will deliver these benefits requires a supportive regulatory framework.
“We are carefully considering the CAA proposals and will make investment decisions accordingly.”
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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