Heathrow's growing debt makes third runway plan even more absurd, say opponents

"A 1 billion rise in Heathrow's debt has prompted campaigners against a third runway to argue the government's decision to back the airport's expansion is even more absurd. The company's accounts for last year, just released, show it reported 17.6bn of debt up from 16.6bn in 2024. The owners also reported pre-tax profits of 575m, down more than a third from 917m in 2024 - despite passenger numbers growing by 600,000."

"Heathrow's controversial 49bn expansion plan would mean more than 700 houses being demolished and the M25 motorway being moved into a tunnel to create the third runway, a new terminal and new taxiways. Campaign organisation the No 3rd Runway Coalition said the rising debt raised questions over the viability of the project."

Heathrow Airport's financial accounts reveal a £1 billion increase in debt to £17.6 billion, while pre-tax profits declined by more than a third to £575 million despite handling 84 million passengers and gaining 600,000 additional passengers. This financial deterioration has prompted campaigners against the airport's third runway expansion to question the government's backing of the controversial £49 billion project. The expansion plan requires demolishing over 700 houses and moving the M25 motorway into a tunnel. Campaign leaders argue Heathrow is the most indebted infrastructure in the UK and that the expansion represents an extraordinarily expensive project compared to alternatives elsewhere in the country.

Read at www.independent.co.uk