Heathrow is in talks with the Government about controversial plans for a third runway and has announced a £2.3billion upgrade.
Europe’s busiest airport is in fresh discussions with ministers and airlines in its latest push in a long battle to expand.
Chief executive Thomas Woldbye wants to boost existing infrastructure -while drumming up support for a third runway.
Negotiations have been given a shot in the arm after Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund and a French investment giant took control of the airport this week.
Uncertainty over its ownership after Ferrovial announced its intention to sell led to a lull in lobbying efforts.
Woldbye is now seeking a ‘clear steer’ that the Government will back a third runway. In 2018 Heathrow was given the green light for a runway enabling an extra 260,000 flights a year, after more than a decade of debate.
Third runway: Heathrow, which is already Europe’s busiest airport, is in fresh discussions with ministers and airlines in its latest push in a long-running battle to expand capacity
But plans, that would see much of the villages of Harmondsworth, Sipson and Longford destroyed, stalled amid staunch opposition from green groups and local campaigners And the cabinet is reportedly split over whether to back expansion.
Some ministers want economic growth while others, including Environment Secretary Ed Miliband, are opposed on climate change grounds.
‘Heathrow said that third runway plans would have to meet ‘strict tests on carbon, noise and air quality’.
Woldbye wants to get more capacity out of the existing infrastructure, as well as a third runway.
The £2.3billion investment announced yesterday will be spent on improving baggage delivery, punctuality and customer experience, and comes just days after Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund PIF and Paris-based investment firm Ardian bought a 37 per cent stake in a £3.3billion deal that valued Heathrow at £8.3billion.
The airport is now readying for its busiest ever festive period, and expects a record-breaking Christmas Day.
Heathrow has forecast a total of 83.8m passengers for 2024 after demand soared over the summer.
A spokesman said: ‘Heathrow is the best-connected airport in the world. That competitive advantage for UK plc already enables over £200billion of British trade annually.
‘But growing the economy means adding capacity.’
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