Britain’s aviation regulator on Monday proposed allowing Heathrow Airport to recover up to 320 million pounds ($433 million) in early costs related to expansion work, as the UK’s biggest airport pushes forward with plans to add capacity.
The proposal comes as Britain seeks to boost aviation infrastructure and address long-standing capacity constraints at Europe’s busiest airport, while ensuring consumer protections remain in place during the costly planning phase.
The Civil Aviation Authority said the plan to allow Heathrow Airport to recoup costs incurred during 2025 and 2026 would help it to fund the planning and design work for its expansion.
Heathrow is working towards submitting an application to build a new northwest runway by 2029, a plan backed by the UK government.
“Our view remains that a regulatory framework allowing the recovery of efficiently incurred early costs in 2025 and 2026 is essential to support timely delivery of expansion and the earlier realisation of consumer benefits,” the watchdog said in its draft proposal.
Heathrow Airport last week forecast an uncertain few months as capacity constraints crimp its ability to benefit from a shift in global aviation patterns resulting from the Iran war, with the west London hub saying its growth lagged European competitors as its runway slots remain full.
Heathrow CEO Thomas Woldbye in February warned that the airport would be overtaken by Istanbul as Europe’s busiest airport this year or next, as its two runways compete with Istanbul’s five.
Responses to the CAA consultation are due by May 18, with a final decision expected in July, the regulator said.
($1 = 0.7393 pounds)
(Reporting by Prerna Bedi and Yamini Kalia）
