Heathrow Airport has warned the UK Government that its proposed third runway may not be operational until 2039, four years later than the current target, according to reports published on Saturday 26 September.
The airport is understood to have told ministers that meeting the 2035 deadline is not achievable under the existing planning and regulatory timetable. The Department for Transport said the target had “always been ambitious” and that it would continue working with stakeholders on the project.
The proposed expansion is based on Heathrow Airport Limited’s north-west runway scheme. The Government confirmed in November 2025 that the proposal would form the basis of the project, with the stated objective of bringing a third runway into operation by 2035.
For logistics operators, the delay could extend the period in which Heathrow’s existing runway capacity remains constrained. Heathrow is the UK’s largest air-cargo airport and an important hub for time-sensitive, high-value and international freight. Additional runway capacity is intended to strengthen passenger and freight links, but the latest warning means airlines, forwarders and shippers may need to plan around current capacity limits for longer.
It may also affect decisions on routing, charter capacity, airport diversification and inventory planning. Businesses using Heathrow as part of European or intercontinental supply chains could face a longer wait before any increase in belly-hold and dedicated cargo capacity becomes available.
The Government’s consultation on a draft Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement closed on 1 September 2026. Parliamentary scrutiny is continuing, with ministers expected to consider consultation responses and committee recommendations before setting out the next steps.
Until the planning process advances, the 2039 date remains a potential revised timetable rather than a formally confirmed opening date. The project’s progress will remain significant for UK connectivity, airport competition and the resilience of freight flows through Britain’s main international hub.
Source: feeds.bbci.co.uk.
