The cost of passengers at Heathrow Airport could increase as a result of plans to build Rachel Reeves' third runway, experts warn.
Clive Wratten, CEO of Business Travel Association (BTA), said the Prime Minister's ambitions should not come at the expense of passengers. Many of them travel for work.
He added:
“It is important that investments in Heathrow are managed responsibly and ensure that improvements are passed on only increased passenger rates.
“The BTA encourages a clear and fair cost strategy to protect travelers while desperately providing UK modernized infrastructure. We work with stakeholders from Heathrow, airlines, hotels and the wider industry. We look forward to enhancing the UK's global connectivity without creating anything unnecessary. The financial burden for those who rely on it.”
When asked what fees could rise, a BTA spokesman noted that the recent increase in reduced fees has increased as “just one case.”
In a letter to Heathrow, the organization predicted that additional revenue from airport parking would exceed £352 million this year.
The Heathrow Reimagined Campaign Group claims airports are the most expensive in the world, with customers paying £1.1 billion more than they would have matched with comparable major European airports.
A £6 fee applies each time the vehicle enters the Heathrow terminal drop-off area. These are located outside of each device.
On Tuesday, Heathrow Airport announced a multi-billion pound new investment programme to expand, including a new terminal building, aircraft stands and passenger infrastructure, working towards its third runway.
Authorities say this includes a boost to UK steel employment. But Paul McGuinness, chairman of the Third Runway Coalition, suggests that “expensive” projects will not be “quickly fixes” for the economy.
He said that the construction or purchasing of steel is “at least 30 years away,” and that the project is “still not possible to invest because some of the Heathrow's airline customers average.” .
McGuinness added: “After all, the cost of destroying villages, rinsing roads and rivers, tunneling over M25's busiest junctions and increasing the size of Heathrow in areas larger than Birmingham International Airport is surprisingly expensive. I promise there is.”
The campaigner described the announcement as “almost Orwellian,” claiming that the project's greatest economic benefits for the UK ranged between £3.3 billion and £2.2 billion over 60 years.
Regarding the increase in drop-off fees, a spokesman for Heathrow Airport said on our sister site My London that Drop-off fees are an important part of its sustainability strategy and that “reduce Heathrow's environmental impact.” “We will change our actions to do this.”
This will reduce pollution and congestion, officials add, and free drop-off and pick-up options will remain available at all terminals and long-staker parks.
