- If completed, Heathrow's annual flight capacity would increase from 480,000 to 756,000 flights.
- The Government has pledged to accelerate the project with the aim of opening the third runway by 2035.
- Nearly 15,200 regional aviation jobs could shift to Heathrow by 2050, according to new analysis.
- The analysis, carried out by the New Economics Foundation (NEF), estimates that 15,200 aviation jobs could be concentrated at Heathrow by 2050.
- A further 6,400 jobs at other London and south-east airports could also be displaced.
- A separate peer review commissioned by the DfT stated it would be 'erroneous' to claim a broad distribution of the gains from Heathrow to regions.
- Heathrow chief executive Thomas Woldbye argued that traditional appraisal methods fail to capture the wider benefits of increased exports, private investment and trade.
- The Government insists Heathrow expansion will boost growth nationwide, while critics argue the benefits are overstated.
Heathrow's third runway expansion has sparked significant debate as new analysis reveals that 15,200 regional aviation jobs could be concentrated at the airport by 2050, displacing jobs from other UK airports.
The New Economics Foundation (NEF) conducted the analysis, indicating that Birmingham Airport alone could lose 7.5 million passengers annually, translating to approximately 9,500 jobs. Furthermore, an additional 6,400 jobs at other London and southeast airports may also be affected.45
The UK Government maintains that the expansion will enhance economic growth, projecting a potential increase in UK GDP by up to 0.05 percent annually. However, critics argue that these benefits are overstated, with a peer review commissioned by the Department for Transport (DfT) suggesting that it would be 'erroneous to claim a broad distribution of the gains' from Heathrow to other regions.
Heathrow's chief executive, Thomas Woldbye, has also challenged the economic modelling, asserting that traditional appraisal methods overlook the broader benefits of increased exports, private investment, and trade.
The proposed scheme involves constructing a 3,500-metre runway at an estimated cost of £33 billion, which would increase Heathrow's annual flight capacity from 480,000 to 756,000 flights. The Government aims to expedite the project, targeting completion by 2035.12
“The analysis by the New Economics Foundation estimates that 15,200 aviation jobs could be concentrated at Heathrow by 2050, with a further 6,400 jobs potentially displaced at other London and south-east airports. Critics argue that the Government's claims of widespread economic benefits are overstated, with a peer review stating it would be 'erroneous' to expect broad distribution of gains.”
