Heathrow expansion: what is in store for the airport and talent alike?

Adam Fell, who leads our Airports & Aviation Services team, considers the ramifications of a third runway and broader expansion at Heathrow Airport.

We’re just two months into 2025, and it feels like a lot has happened already. In the UK, there’s been plenty of discussion lately about plans for the expansion of Heathrow Airport – though in a way, that isn’t really a new development. Talks about building a new northwest runway have been rumbling on in some form for over a decade; indeed, the earliest discussion of the topic was over 20 years ago. And, with construction estimated to take at least another ten years to complete, if will be a long time until we see any tangible changes. Nonetheless, the Heathrow news is obviously hugely significant for the airports and aviation services sectors for various reasons. I’m hearing a lot about it from my network, for sure – but just how will the situation play out?

Sustainability in the spotlight

For one, there are question marks about the disruption the plans will cause, not to mention worries around how to expand the airport sustainably. When pressed about ESG concerns, Chancellor Rachel Reeves has pointed to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) as a solution, though this doesn’t seem to answer how building plans can meet green targets. Despite a recent government mandate to boost production of SAF, there is not enough supply in the UK, let alone globally, to meet demand – and even then, airlines tend to control its synthesis. We could see Heathrow introduce incentives to boost SAF production ahead of starting construction on the new runway, while bringing in extra service vehicles that run on electric energy. While both sustainable initiatives would not be enough in themselves to offset the emissions from extra air traffic, they would still have some impact.

In any case, it is important for Heathrow to set the right agenda and to be seen to do the right thing, which will likely include introducing caps on passenger numbers passing through the third runway: something that will not be popular with airlines. Watch this space.

Maintaining flawless customer service amid disruption

Another, wholly separate but no less obvious problem is just how the airport will manage the major upheaval that building work will entail. I’m sure that the finished runway will look great, of course – but what happens until then? Terminals at an already huge airport will have to be ripped apart and reconfigured. With so much attention given to customer experience and satisfaction in the airports and aerospace sectors at present, you would have to expect that travelling through Heathrow will be less pleasant while construction is underway. How can the airport maintain market-leading standards of customer experience when large parts of it will look like – in fact, will be – a building site? The endeavour will call for excellent project management and phased construction.

Separately, it is notable that Heathrow Imagined, the campaign calling on the CAA to investigate how the airport has become the world’s most expensive – as well as to curb passenger charges before the expansion begins – has been backed by both IATA and IAG. I will be curious to see how the situation pans out.

Gatwick and Luton – full steam ahead, or cast aside?

Something that seems to be lost from wider news reports about Heathrow is the fact that two other London airports have much more immediate plans for growth. The government has today backed Gatwick’s  expansion plans so long as it can meet some conditions around noise pollution and local infrastructure by the new deadline of 24 April. Meanwhile, Luton also has an expansion project at a significantly more advanced stage than Heathrow’s. The Luton proposal was in fact on the verge of approval last year, only to be hindered by the resignation of the then-Minister for Transport, Louise Haigh. Heidi Alexander, the current Minister, is due to review the plan by 3 April, marking the third time it has been pushed back.

With these major expansion programmes getting ever closer, Gatwick and Luton will face the challenge of delivering large infrastructure programmes and increasing numbers, while nonetheless hitting their targets on sustainability and maintaining top-notch customer service. It’s certainly a difficult task, and with Heathrow plans still some way from being a reality, the expansions proposed for Gatwick and Luton will test the government’s appetite for bringing huge building work to life.

Demand for talent remains high

So, with progress still up in the air – pardon the pun – what do the various plans for airport expansion in and around London mean for talent? It’s worth noting that hiring for various infrastructure projects remains massively competitive. Airports will have to compete with the likes of HS2 and various programmes for nuclear energy, highway building, and water supply for the candidates with the necessary structural, architectural, and engineering nous. With talent in short supply, and consultants running on empty for whom they can assign, you could argue on the one hand that there’s no great rush to proceed with Heathrow plans; whether they start building now or several years down the line, the completion date will probably be the same.

An area that is at a more advanced stage as far as Heathrow expansion is concerned is digital and tech – yet there are difficulties there too, of course. Quite apart from the challenges of attracting digital talent into the airports sector when there are many other industries to compete with, it’s worth remembering that the design of the airport itself is a key consideration. With terminals needing to be revamped as a result of the new runway’s placement, it will be tricky for architects, engineers, and digital talent to design something that will still look cutting-edge when it is eventually unveiled. Airport leaders and project managers alike will have their work cut out finding the right people to bridge the gap between technology and customer experience. Utilising AI and CX talent to give passengers the best possible journeys will need to be a cornerstone of any expansion strategy for Heathrow, Gatwick, and Luton alike.

Conclusion

So, amid all this uncertainty one thing’s for sure – it will be interesting to follow what happens in the unfolding saga of Heathrow’s expansion. In the first instance, we’ll be watching developments at Gatwick and Luton with interest, as they will face challenges around maintaining operational excellence during major development programmes long before Heathrow does. I have a feeling that there are further twists in store.

In the meantime, I’d love to hear what professionals in the airports and aerospace sector think. If you’d like to discuss what the plans for airport expansion in the London area might mean for your business – or if you’d like to have a chat about the talent strategy needed to implement major projects in the space – please drop me a line.