The UK government must bring in sweeping reforms to the country’s air travel regulations if it wants Heathrow’s controversial third runway to become a reality, the airport’s chief executive has said.

However, it is her proposal to expand Heathrow that has garnered the most attention. The prospect of a third runway has been a recurring topic since 2018; Heathrow’s capped 480,000 flights a year means the airport has been operating at maximum capacity for twenty years.

Thomas Woldbye unveiled funding for upgrades and expansion, such as boosting the capacity of Terminals 2 and 5, and boosting bus and coach connections.

A map reveals where Heathrow will expand after the government gave a green light to the airport’s growth. The UK’s busiest airport will get a third runway and a new terminal after confirmation by Chancellor Rachel Reeves last month.