{
  "id": 14373859,
  "title": "Not building third runway would be 'huge missed opportunity', warns Heathrow boss",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/not-building-third-runway-would-be-huge-missed-opportunity-warns",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-14T04:59:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "BBC Business",
    "slug": "bbc-business",
    "url": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckdd8egder5ro?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Heathrow Airport's chief executive, Thomas Woldbye, has warned that not building a third runway at the UK's busiest airport would be a significant missed opportunity for the nation. Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Woldbye emphasized that if the airport's owners cannot invest in a third runway, the money would be invested elsewhere, which would have a negative impact on the UK economy. The airport currently serves over 80 million travelers a year, and a third runway would increase this number to nearly 2,000 flights per day, generating a substantial boost in revenue for the airport and creating jobs. However, building a third runway has been a contentious issue, facing opposition from local residents, politicians, and climate campaigners. The project has been debated for decades, and a decision on its future is expected in the new year. Heathrow's owners would prefer to see the money invested in the UK, but if they cannot, it will be invested elsewhere, resulting in a significant loss of economic benefits for the country.",
  "summary": "Thomas Woldbye tells the Today progamme it would be \"good to know\" the government's position on the project, after comments made by the prime minister.",
  "key_points": [],
  "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."
}