British Airways backs new 2,800m runway for Heathrow

LONDON - Heathrow airport submitted details for a new 3,500m northwestern runway in August. The third runway is needed to support future traffic growth - but carries a hefty price tag. Core Heathrow user British Airways favors a "shorter runway" as a cheaper solution for airlines that will ultimately pay for it.

Heathrow airports will build a third runway. The project will unlock capacity "to serve up to 756,000 flights and 150 million passengers" up from an expected 85.1 million this year, Heathrow said in August.

Development plans also include a "brand-new terminal T5X, expanding Terminal 2 and three new satellite terminals". Total project cost: close to 50 billion GBP. Eventually, airlines will pay the airport expansion with higher fees.

"I think we should look at ways of potentially building a shorter runway," British Airways CEO Sean Doyle argued at the Airlines 2025 conference this week according to the "BBC".

The 3,500m runway, favored by Heathrow owners, would require an additional M25 tunnel and new bridges. Developer Arora Group pitched a 2,800m runway that would not affect the motorway - and might cut project cost in half. Heathrow argues that a longer runway is needed to handle heavy long-haul flights.

"If you can avoid moving the M25, you should avoid moving the M25," Doyle said. A government decision on the project is pending and expected by end of November.