Heathrow's senior management have submitted their proposal to oversee the hub's long-awaited third runway expansion in a competitive tender process that will see it face off against a rival operator for the first time in the airport's history.
Airport officials confirmed they had lodged "shovel-ready" plans for a privately funded runway ahead of the Department for Transport's Thursday deadline, which they said would enable flights to commence within a decade, as reported by .
Heathrow announced its submission just one day after another operator – headed by hotel magnate Surinder Arora – disclosed it was putting forward a competing proposal to manage the megaproject.
The confrontation represents the first occasion that infrastructure improvements at the º£½ÇÊÓƵ's premier aviation hub have been opened to external bidders, in a move ministers hope will foster greater competition and prompt more efficient proposals.
The two sets of blueprints already differ on how to address the complex matter of the M25 running where the third runway would naturally terminate.
Heathrow's proposals include a £1bn scheme to divert the M25, which would create a tunnel beneath the southern section of the disputed strip.
Heathrow stated the costly measure ensures the runway will reach the standard 3,500m length and will allow the º£½ÇÊÓƵ to maximise traffic volumes, and economic returns, following construction. Under the proposal led by billionaire Arora's hotel group, Arora Group, and devised by aviation project firm Bechtel, the runway would only extend to 2,800m.
Arora asserts that a shorter runway would help control construction costs and ensure timely delivery while still accommodating all types of aircraft.
Heathrow expansion 'never been more important'
Heathrow chief executive Thomas Woldbye stated: "It has never been more important or urgent to expand Heathrow.
"We are effectively operating at capacity to the detriment of trade and connectivity. With a green light from government and the correct policy support underpinned by a fit for purpose regulatory model, we are ready to mobilise and start investing this year in our supply chain across the country."
The incumbent argues its proposal could facilitate an additional 276,000 flights annually, increasing the hub's total yearly traffic from 480,000 to potentially as much as 756,000. It also plans to include a new terminal as part of a 'terminal complex.'
However, the airport's leadership cautioned that the private capital required for the project would only be available if the government implemented "necessary policy changes," including airspace modernisation, planning reform and regulation adjustments.
The prospect of a third runway has remained a contentious political issue since it was initially proposed during Gordon Brown's tenure more than 15 years ago.
When serving as Mayor of London, Boris Johnson memorably declared he would "lie down in front of the diggers" before allowing it to progress.
His successor Sadiq Khan has maintained similar opposition, having previously indicated he might pursue legal action against the scheme.
Speaking on Thursday, he reiterated his stance against the proposals "because of the severe impact it will have in terms of noise, air pollution and meeting our climate change targets."
"I remain unconvinced that you can have a new runway at Heathrow, delivering hundreds of thousands of additional flights every year, without a hugely detrimental impact on our environment," he added.
