Plans to expand London's other airports are already further along than Heathrow's and have in the past been viewed as an alternative to a third Heathrow runway. Work is set to start this year to expand capacity at Stansted's terminal. The government is due to make a decision on Gatwick airport by 27 February.

Airport bosses have been pushing for the expansion for years, arguing that Heathrow’s capacity is full. They said the £14 billion expansion is needed to add 260,000 flights. Many residents are against the expansion as homes and businesses near the airport’s safety perimeter face demolition,

U.K. Treasury chief Rachel Reeves says that the new Labour government is backing the construction of third runway at London’s Heathrow Airport.