The opening of London Heathrow Airport's controversial third runway is likely to be delayed by around four years to the end of the 2030s.
The UK government had previously stated the £49 billion expansion of the country's largest airport could be completed and the runway operational by 2035. But Heathrow bosses have told ministers that this timescale is not possible and suggested the project would not be completed until 2039, according to multiple media reports.
"It's right that ambitious targets were set: the sooner expansion begins, the sooner the whole UK will benefit," said a Heathrow spokesperson in a statement. "Our focus has always been to secure planning permission by 2029. Once achieved, the runway will be open within a decade."
New UK prime minister Andy Burnham did not explicitly support Heathrow expansion during an interview with BBC TV on Sunday, when he suggested it was a "matter for London and Londoners." The government had backed the building of a third runway at Heathrow under former PM Keir Starmer and ex-chancellor Rachel Reeves in early 2025.
"I think we ought to hear the voice of people there first. It's not right for me to just jump straight in on the back of the consultation," said Burnham during the interview.
The government has just closed a consultation into the policy framework that will allow Heathrow expansion, meanwhile the airport will open its own consultation with local communities about the impact of its plans in October.
Heathrow's eight-week consultation, running from Oct. 27 to Dec. 22, will see the publication of more details about how it will meet "strict tests" on carbon emissions, noise levels and air quality if expansion goes ahead. The consultation will include around 20 public events in towns and villages near the airport.
Becky Coffin, Heathrow's director for communities and residential property, said: "We agree with the prime minister that local voices must be heard. We know from consistent polling over the last decade that communities support our plans for expansion, and support is only growing over time.
"But more than that, we want local people, businesses and education institutions to have genuine opportunities to shape and finalize our plans. This consultation is a chance to do just that."
Julia Lo Bue-Said, CEO of TMC network Advantage Travel Partnership, said: "We welcomed the clear commitment by Labour to push forward with Heathrow expansion and hope that commitment remains under new leadership.
"Heathrow Airport is the UK's front door to the world. It matters to the whole of the UK—not just for London and Londoners. Its capacity has a direct impact on economic growth which benefits communities across every region of the UK.
"Advantage, as part of the Heathrow Reimagined Campaign supports the expansion of Heathrow, delivered for the whole country."
But Lo Bue-Said said expansion "must be affordable," and she noted that airlines and passengers would pay for the project through airport charges, which were already "the highest in the world" at Heathrow.