Heathrow Cites Airline Demand in Third Runway Push (aeroxplorer.com)

Heathrow Airport said more than 40 airlines are seeking slots, with about three-quarters of proposed new routes long-haul, and that it cannot accommodate them without expansion. The government is reviewing the framework for a third runway, and Heathrow submitted a plan in August 2025 to add a 3,500-meter runway, raising annual flights to 756,000 and terminal capacity to 150 million passengers. Airlines have raised concerns about passenger charges, and IAG has said it would not back expansion without fee reforms, while the Arora Group has proposed an alternative "Heathrow West" plan that avoids diverting the M25.