BUSINESS NEWS


An airports expert says: ‘Airlines are making a case about how a third runway would be paid for, but why would a review come down on their side?’


Airlines cautioned to be wary on Heathrow fees


Source warns reform of charges ‘might not work in carriers’ favour’. By Ian Taylor


Airline chiefs demanding a review of Heathrow’s charges ahead of investment in a third runway should be “careful what they wish for”, according to a senior airports source. British Airways owner IAG,


Virgin Atlantic, the Heathrow Airline Operators Committee and hotel, property and construction group Arora launched a Heathrow Reimagined campaign in February calling for “fundamental reform of Heathrow’s regulatory model”. IAG chief executive Luis Gallego


48 1 MAY 2025


insisted: “We wouldn’t support [a third runway] with the current regulatory model.” This came after chancellor Rachel


Reeves confirmed government support for a third runway, inviting proposals to be brought forward “by the summer” and promising to “move at speed on granting development consent”. Heathrow Reimagined hit out at


the airport’s “declining experience and ageing infrastructure” when it is “the most expensive airport in the world”, said its “substantial market power has


for too long given it an incentive to spend inefficiently” and warned its expansion “will see charges rise again”. The campaign called on the CAA


“to investigate what has gone wrong before passengers and airlines are locked into higher charges for decades to come”. The Advantage Travel Partnership,


Business Travel Association, World Travel & Tourism Council and UK Board of Airline Representatives in


Continued on page 46 travelweekly.co.uk


BUSINESSNEWS


PICTURE: Shutterstock/David Cold Weather


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52