Heathrow airport passenger charges to rise under new proposals

• The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has proposed new caps on the average charge Heathrow Airport can levy on airlines for the five years from 2027 to 2031.
• The proposed mid-point charge of £28.80 per passenger represents a 1% increase over the current £28.40, but is significantly lower than Heathrow's request and higher than airlines' suggestions.
• Heathrow's chief executive, Thomas Woldbye, warned that the proposal may delay essential improvements and innovation at the airport.
• The CAA's proposals also include approving two-thirds of Heathrow's suggested £9.5 billion capital expenditure programme, while excluding projects related to a third runway.
• The regulator aims to balance fair passenger prices with necessary investment, and will publish its final proposals in November, with a decision expected in April 2027.