Expanding London airports will help growth take off Opinion Extra runways at Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton are not just lucrative transport infrastructure projects that will create construction jobs and supply chain benefits in the short-term. They are key to getting overseas visitors into the UK to spend money, says Alex Challoner The summer holidays are upon us. Chances are, at some time in the [...]
Tax bill and Middle East weigh on Heathrow despite record numbers Aviation Heathrow’s tax bill has more than doubled in the first half of this year, weighing on profit at the airport despite it bucking the Middle East conflict to enjoy record passenger numbers. The west London hub faced a £129m bill to HMRC in the six months to July, according to its latest update, up from [...]
Jet2 handed £400m boost from Iran war jet fuel spike Transport & Infrastructure Jet2 recorded a £400m boost from the rising price of jet fuel which caused widespread fear that summer holidays could be cancelled and airlines could go bust. The package holiday provider revealed that it defied the travel chaos caused by the Middle East conflict to instead take a £388m balance sheet boost from rising jet [...]
Gatwick expansion cleared for take-off, court rules June 23, 2026 Gatwick Airport moved a step closer to breaking ground on its eagerly anticipated expansion today after a court dismissed a pair of legal challenges brought by local campaigners. In a ruling, High Court judge Mr Justice Mould said the government’s assessment of the project’s environmental and climate impact was “lawful and reasonable” and branded the [...]
Judge rejects Gatwick Airport bid to block new relaxed runway slot rules June 19, 2026 A High Court judge has refused Gatwick’s request for an immediate emergency freeze to stop the new 70 per cent rule from starting today. The UK government temporarily reduced the “use it or lose it” slot usage requirement at major UK airports, including Gatwick Airport, from the standard 80 per cent to 70 per cent [...]
Let’s help London’s £53.5bn airport investment opportunity take off June 10, 2026 The report highlights how London’s global success has been underpinned by its connectivity. Yet those connections are straining through a combination of a Byzantine planning system, regulatory hurdles and rising, policy-driven, operating costs. If London can’t get airport investment off the ground, it’ll be left on the tarmac while other country’s growth flies, says John [...]
Heathrow, Gatwick revolt over Labour flight cancellation plans May 12, 2026 Heathrow and Gatwick have urged the government to climb down from plans to allow airlines to scrap flights without notice – a move which could endanger the summer holidays of millions of Brits. The leading airports reportedly wrote to the government to oppose mooted plans to unwind “use it or lose it” rules to allow [...]
Wetherspoon boss Tim Martin clashes with Ryanair over airport breakfast booze May 7, 2026 The boss of JD Wetherspoon has clashed with the chief of budget airline Rynair over calls for airports to crack down on early morning drinking. Tim Martin, chair of the UK’s best-known pub chain, has said regulating alcohol consumption at airports is a “Big Brother” approach which could lead to passengers being breathalysed. Ryanair boss [...]
Jet fuel shortage looms as government scrambles to secure supplies April 29, 2026 The government is scrambling to secure UK airlines’ emergency access to jet fuel as global shipments fall to their lowest level on record. Global shipments of jet fuel have fallen to their lowest level on record, as the blockage to the Strait of Hormuz threatens to suffocate supply to the world’s airlines. Under 2.3m tonnes [...]
Baggage handler demands Heathrow red tape overhaul amid cost scrutiny April 24, 2026 One of Heathrow’s longest-standing partners has joined a campaign demanding an urgent overhaul of the airport’s regulatory model, saying the hub’s current cost structure and performance languish behind other world-leading hubs. City AM can reveal that Menzies Aviation, which handles much of the baggage passing through the west London hub, has thrown its weight behind [...]