What you need to know about Heathrow Airport's £21bn expansion plans
The proposed expansion aims to significantly increase annual flight capacity to 756,000 and passenger numbers to 150 million, necessitating a new 3,500-metre runway and the tunnelling of the M25 motorway.
Heathrow anticipates securing planning consent by 2029, with the new runway becoming operational within a decade of approval.
Proponents, including Chancellor Rachel Reeves and easyJet, argue the expansion will boost investment, trade, create jobs, and potentially lead to lower airfares.
The Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, and environmental organisations like Friends of the Earth oppose the plans, citing concerns over noise, air pollution, and the UK 's climate change commitments.
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