{
  "id": 10170649,
  "title": "Heathrow third runway suffers four-year delay",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/27/heathrow-third-runway-suffers-four-year-delay",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-27T07:46:31.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "City AM",
    "slug": "city-am",
    "url": "https://www.cityam.com/heathrow-third-runway-suffers-four-year-delay/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Heathrow Airport's third runway will not be completed until 2039, four years later than initially planned, according to a report. Despite former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's efforts to speed up construction, Heathrow officials confirmed that 2035 was always an ambitious target. Airport spokespersons stated that the sooner the expansion begins, the sooner the entire UK will benefit from the new runway's advantages. Heathrow's goal has always been to secure planning permission by 2029, after which the runway would be operational within a decade. The delay to the project, which was revealed by The Sunday Times, has raised concerns about the major infrastructure initiative under the new government led by Andy Burnham. Rachel Reeves, a former Chancellor, had made Heathrow's expansion a key part of her plans to boost economic growth, aiming to secure it \"signed off.\" Heathrow claimed that the new runway would be privately financed and generate 108,000 new jobs. Construction firms have also supported the expansion, arguing that it could help address youth unemployment in London. However, London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan has been vocal in his opposition to the expansion, citing environmental concerns. It was reported in The Financial Times that Burnham himself is privately opposed to the construction. The final plans will be presented to MPs for a vote after a consultation period concludes, potentially pitting billionaire Surinder Arora, who has a competing proposal, against Heathrow. Gary Smith, general secretary of union GMB, supported the new target, calling it a \"deliverable, workable and practical timeline for Heathrow expansion that unlocks over 100,000 jobs.\" The Department for Transport declined to comment on ongoing consultation processes, emphasizing that there is currently no live planning application for the third runway and that the timeline had always been ambitious.",
  "summary": "Heathrow Airport’s third runway will be delivered only four years after an initial target, it was revealed, amid questions over whether the plan will get the go-ahead. The third runway at Europe’s second busiest airport will only be finished in 2039 despite efforts by the former Sir Keir Starmer government to accelerate construction. Airport chiefs [...]",
  "key_points": [
    "Heathrow's third runway delayed to 2039, four years later than planned",
    "Former PM Sir Keir Starmer's efforts couldn't speed up construction",
    "Expansion aims to create 108,000 jobs and boost economic growth"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}