Heathrow Seeks to Increase Passenger Fees to Fund Terminal Upgrades

Heathrow Airport has unveiled an ambitious proposal to accommodate an additional 10 million passengers annually by 2031, a plan contingent on an increase in airline fees. This strategy, submitted to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), details upgrades to existing terminals as a means to boost capacity. This initiative offers a quicker expansion route compared to the government’s long-term vision for a new runway at Europe’s busiest airport, which is not expected to be operational until 2035 at the earliest.

The proposed 10 million passenger increase represents a 12 percent rise on current numbers. To facilitate this growth, Heathrow aims to raise the average charge per passenger from the current £28.46 to £33.26, an increase of nearly £5. The CAA, responsible for overseeing airport charges, is now reviewing these plans before issuing its official response.

This request comes amid ongoing complaints from airlines, who argue that Heathrow is already one of the world’s most expensive airports and have urged the regulator to reduce charges. Heathrow, in turn, attributes its high fees to expensive building costs, its constrained physical footprint, and the large number of long-haul flights it handles.

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Source: Independent

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