Heathrow’s third runway looks likely to open closer to 2039 than 2035
Heathrow Airport has indicated that the opening of its planned third runway will be closer to 2039 than 2035.
Heathrow Airport has indicated that the opening of its planned third runway will be closer to 2039 than 2035.
The London, UK airport had already outlined early this year that the opening of the runway may take longer than anticipated.
In its first quarter 2025 results, published 30 April 2025, it said that depending on the Government’s response, it aimed for the third runway to be operational by 2035.
But in January 2026, Heathrow had said the UK Government timetable was to secure planning permission by 2029 and bring the runway into operation within a decade, up to 2039.
In a recently issued statement to Reuters, a spokesperson for Heathrow said that 2035 had been an “ambitious target”.
However, the airport added: “Our focus has always been to secure planning permission by 2029. Once achieved the runway will be open within a decade.”
Heathrow did not respond to Air Cargo News‘ request for comment.
The planned runway will be a key part of Heathrow’s expansion. In November 2025, the government announced that it had decided to back the Heathrow Northwest Runway scheme by Heathrow Airport Limited (HAL).
The plans include a 3.5 km runway and building a tunnel under the development through which the M25 motorway will run.
This scheme “offered the most credible and deliverable option and would be the scheme to inform the Airports NPS review,” said the Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement.
In January this year, Logistics UK welcomed Heathrow’s approval of funding to begin work on a planning application for the third runway.
Funding the planning application is an important initial step in securing planning approval by its 2029 target.
Heathrow is now preparing to launch its 2026 Public Consultation. The eight-week consultation will run from 27 October to 22 December with local residents able to learn more about expansion plans, before a planning application is submitted.
Heathrow moved 1.5m tonnes in 2025, up 0.8% year on year, as UK cargo surged 29.7% and North America rose 4.6%.
As well as HAL’s scheme for a new runway, the airport is also using a participatory stakeholder approach as it continues to redevelop its ‘Horseshoe’ cargo area and supports the rollout of the CCS-UK AIS (Advance Information System) portal for booking and monitoring trucks.
