Heathrow’s third runway: The big questions, answered

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Between now and the prospective opening of a new runway at Heathrow at some time between 2025 and 2030, the great airport debate will continue even more noisily. But if it proceeds smoothly, the new runway could conceivably be ready by 2025 — though the associated works, particularly on a new Terminal 6, could take several years longer. But deferring the airport’s reward for expansion would involve Heathrow taking on a vast amount of debt which, if charges were constrained, could take decades to pay back. Heathrow’s been in this situation twice before.” However, he conceded that Gatwick would need Government support through the planning process.