Heathrow’s third runway delayed as new target deadline revealed

Plans to construct a third runway at Heathrow Airport have been delayed by four years, pushing the expected opening date back to 2039.

Senior executives at the UK's largest and busiest aviation hub are understood to have informed the Government that meeting the original 2035 deadline is unachievable.

The revised timeframe represents a setback for Andy Burnham’s ambitions to drive economic growth, coming just as Labour’s annual conference begins in Liverpool.

The 2035 goal was originally announced last January by then-chancellor Rachel Reeves, who viewed it as a highly ambitious schedule. Reeves has since been replaced by John Healey.

Speaking during a major speech on infrastructure, Ms Reeves confirmed official backing for the project as a driver of economic expansion, stating it would generate 100,000 jobs.

Heathrow intends to secure planning permission by 2029 and has maintained throughout that building the runway within ten years of approval remains a reasonable target.

Airport leaders believe construction could be accelerated, but contend this would require removing additional regulatory red tape beyond the planning law reforms already made by ministers.

A Heathrow spokesperson said: "It’s right that ambitious targets were set; the sooner expansion begins, the sooner the whole UK will benefit. Our focus has always been to secure planning permission by 2029.

"Once achieved, the runway will be open within a decade – and the benefits of expansion can be felt from today. At least 108,000 new jobs and billions invested in supply chains in every part of the country.

"This is a national project, 100% privately financed, which will support growth today and secure the UK’s position in the global economy once the runway opens."

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: "There is currently no live planning application for a third runway, and we cannot comment on ongoing consultation processes or prejudice them in a way that will only delay progress.

"The timeline has always been ambitious.

"We’ll continue to work with promoters, including Heathrow, and all other stakeholders at pace to ensure the right framework is in place for which a planning application for a third runway could be considered."