It is part of Rachel Reeves‘s broader plan to invigorate the economy by driving forward several major infrastructure projects, as well as a second runway at Gatwick and increased capacity at Luton Airport, decisions on which will be made “shortly”, Reeves said.
Ahead of the speech, green energy boss and Labour donor Dale Vince said that the expansion would create the “illusion of growth”.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds backed the plans, saying the UK “can’t afford” to be a country that “doesn’t build runways”.
There have been decades of wrangling over the plans for a third runway, with vociferous opposition from environmental groups and communities set to be impacted by the expansion.
Large airports create jobs, promote trade and bring in both business travellers and tourists.
But flights from the airport are currently capped at a maximum of 480,000 per year – signalling it has reached its capacity. A third runway would potentially increase the number of flights permitted to 720,000, according to the airport.
But – the scheme would involve years of construction to produce a third runway and a new terminal. It would also require hundreds of houses to be demolished and the M25 motorway to be moved into a tunnel.
Verdict: Mixed – Airport expansion does have the potential to propel investment and grow the UK economy, but opponents argue there is no way it will bring any immediate boost
Claim: Stopping planes stacking around London cuts emissions
According to Heathrow Airport, in 2023 more than a third of all arriving planes – 232 – were held in one of four “stacks” above London every day where each aircraft spent about 6.85 minutes before landing.
Cabinet split over backing for Heathrow expansion
Read MoreSince 2014 Heathrow has been working alongside traffic control company NATS to slow inbound flights from Europe as far as 350 miles away in an attempt to reduce stacking.
Verdict: True – though there are concerns about how much of an impact this would have
While it is true that a number of small battery-powered electric planes have been developed and investment is mounting, there are significant obstacles to their widespread adoption.
Verdict: Mixed – the use of electric planes faces significant and lengthy obstacles
Claim: It will accelerate the use of sustainable fuel
The Chancellor said that “sustainable aviation fuel” is “changing carbon emissions from flying” and would slash emissions.
Yet again our government is abandoning the North
Read MoreLabour has maintained a target set by the previous government that 10 per cent of all jet fuel used in flights taking off from the UK must be sustainable by 2030.
And there are a number of concerns about the viability of sustainable fuels, including challenges in scaling up production, the use of crops and land that could be devoted to growing food, and the emissions incurred in producing, refining and transporting them.
Verdict: False – a tiny fraction of jet fuel is currently “sustainable” and scaling up use is a long way off to use as a benefit of Heathrow expansion
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