Tag Archives: London

The UK Government moves ahead with its expansion plans for a third runway at Heathrow Airport

The UK Government has confirmed that it will proceed with the 2019 expansion plans for London’s Heathrow Airport, selecting the option that calls for the construction of a third runway to the northwest of the existing airfield. This decision carries major implications, as it will require the demolition of the towns of Harmondsworth and Longford and a reconfiguration of the M25 motorway to accommodate the new 3,500‑metre runway. The choice signals a commitment to the original, more extensive plan despite its higher cost and disruptive impact.

The government’s selection comes after weighing an alternative proposal known as “Heathrow West,” put forward earlier in 2025 by the Arora Group in partnership with Bechtel and Scott Brownrigg. That scheme envisioned a shorter 2,800‑metre runway, which would have avoided bridging over the M25 and carried a significantly lower price tag—under £25 billion compared to the current £49 billion budget. Despite these advantages, the government opted for the longer runway, citing capacity and long‑term strategic needs.

The timing of the announcement is notable, arriving just one day before Chancellor Rachel Reeves unveils her budget. Back in January 2025, Reeves had endorsed the idea of a third runway, emphasizing its potential to generate up to 100,000 jobs and strengthen the UK economy by expanding one of the world’s busiest airports. The government’s latest move underscores its determination to deliver on that promise, even in the face of cost concerns and local opposition.

Plans for a third runway at Heathrow have been debated for more than six decades, almost since the airport’s transformation into a major commercial hub. Successive governments have voiced support, only to see proposals stall amid fierce resistance during consultation and planning stages. The issue has become one of the longest‑running infrastructure debates in modern British history.

For residents of Harmondsworth and Longford, the decision brings both clarity and upheaval. Many have lived under the shadow of possible demolition for decades, unable to sell their homes due to uncertainty. While some welcome the chance to finally have their properties compulsorily purchased and move on, others face the loss of long‑standing communities. The government’s choice of the 2019 plan thus represents not only a major infrastructure milestone but also a deeply personal turning point for those directly affected.

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Riyadh Air commences operations

Today, October 26, 2025, marked a milestone for Saudi Arabia’s new national carrier: Riyadh Air completed its inaugural passenger service to London Heathrow on October 26, 2025.

The flight, designated RX401, departed Riyadh King Khalid International Airport at 3:26 a.m. local time and landed at London Heathrow six hours and 48 minutes later. The aircraft used was a Boeing 787‑9 Dreamliner (HZ-RXX), nicknamed Jamila (“beautiful” in Arabic). This jet has been serving as Riyadh Air’s technical spare and training aircraft since early 2025, leased from Oman Air while the airline awaits delivery of its own new fleet.

Photo: Riyadh Air

For this inaugural service, the passenger list was limited to Riyadh Air employees, staff from the Public Investment Fund (PIF) — the Saudi sovereign wealth fund backing the airline — and invited partners and guests. The airline has stated that this “insiders‑only” approach will continue for the next few flights as it fine‑tunes operations before opening to the general public.

The London route is the first step in Riyadh Air’s ambitious plan to connect Riyadh to more than 100 destinations by 2030, in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy. Daily service to Heathrow will be followed by the launch of flights to Dubai (DXB) in the coming weeks.

This inaugural flight also comes after Riyadh Air secured its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) in April 2025, and it represents the airline’s official entry into the global market. The carrier has major fleet orders in place — including 72 Boeing 787s, 60 Airbus A321neos, and up to 50 Airbus A350s — with the first brand‑new aircraft expected to arrive before the end of 2025.

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Emirates backs down, now agrees to cap LHR sales

Emirates issued this statement:

The President of Emirates Airline and the CEO of Heathrow Airport held a constructive meeting on July 15. Emirates agreed the airline was ready and willing to work with the airport to remediate the situation over the next 2 weeks, to keep demand and capacity in balance and provide passengers with a smooth and reliable journey through Heathrow this summer.

Emirates has capped further sales on its flights out of Heathrow until mid-August to assist Heathrow in its resource ramp up, and is working to adjust capacity.

In the meantime, Emirates flights from Heathrow operate as scheduled and ticketed passengers may travel as booked.

Emirates aircraft photo gallery:

 

Emirates statement on operations at London Heathrow

Emirates values our partnerships with airport stakeholders across our network with whom we engage continuously, and collaboratively, to secure our flight operations and ensure minimal customer disruption, particularly over the peak travel months.

It is therefore highly regrettable that LHR last evening gave us 36 hours to comply with capacity cuts, of a figure that appears to be plucked from thin air. Their communications not only dictated the specific flights on which we should throw out paying passengers, but also threatened legal action for non-compliance.

This is entirely unreasonable and unacceptable, and we reject these demands.

At London Heathrow airport (LHR), our ground handling and catering – run by dnata, part of the Emirates Group – are fully ready and capable of handling our flights. So the crux of the issue lies with the central services and systems which are the responsibility of the airport operator.

Emirates is a key and steadfast operator at LHR, having reinstated 6 daily A380 flights since October 2021. From our past 10 months of regularly high seat loads, our operational requirements cannot be a surprise to the airport.

Now, with blatant disregard for consumers, they wish to force Emirates to deny seats to tens of thousands of travellers who have paid for, and booked months ahead, their long-awaited package holidays or trips to see their loved ones. And this, during the super peak period with the upcoming UK holidays, and at a time when many people are desperate to travel after 2 years of pandemic restrictions.

Emirates believes in doing the right thing by our customers. However, re-booking the sheer numbers of potentially impacted passengers is impossible with all flights running full for the next weeks, including at other London airports and on other airlines. Adding to the complexity, 70% of our customers from LHR are headed beyond Dubai to see loved ones in far flung destinations, and it will be impossible to find them new onward connections at short notice.

Moving some of our passenger operations to other UK airports at such short notice is also not realistic. Ensuring ground readiness to handle and turnaround a widebody long-haul aircraft with 500 passengers onboard is not as simple as finding a parking spot at a mall.

The bottomline is, the LHR management team are cavalier about travellers and their airline customers. All the signals of a strong travel rebound were there, and for months, Emirates has been publicly vocal about the matter.  We planned ahead to get to a state of readiness to serve customers and travel demand, including rehiring and training 1,000 A380 pilots in the past year.

LHR chose not to act, not to plan, not to invest. Now faced with an “airmageddon” situation due to their incompetence and non-action, they are pushing the entire burden – of costs and the scramble to sort the mess – to airlines and travellers.

The shareholders of London Heathrow should scrutinise the decisions of the LHR management team.

Given the tremendous value that the aviation community generates for the UK economy and communities, we welcome the action taken by the UK Department for Transport and Civil Aviation Authority to seek information from LHR on their response plans, systems resilience, and to explain the seemingly arbitrary cap of 100,000 daily passengers. Considering LHR handled 80.9 million passengers annually in 2019, or a daily average of 219,000, the cap represents greater than a 50% cut at a time when LHR claims to have 70% of ground handling resources in place.

Until further notice, Emirates plans to operate as scheduled to and from LHR.

Emirates aircraft photo gallery:

JetBlue gains permanent slots at London Heathrow Airport, adds new flights to London

JetBlue Airways today announced a series of new milestones related to its growing low-fare London service which further advances the airline’s transatlantic growth and brings even more attractive fares and award-winning service to some of the busiest and most competitive travel corridors in the world. The airline has secured permanent slots at Heathrow, is adding a new Gatwick departure from New York and is improving the airport experience for customers in the United Kingdom.

Securing Slots

JetBlue has received permanent slots at London Heathrow Airport (LHR) for flights starting October 29, 2022, which secures the airline’s long-term future at the iconic global hub. Permanent slots allow JetBlue to retain its presence and visibility at the U.K.’s busiest airport as it continues to grow its base of transatlantic travelers. JetBlue appreciates the support of the U.S. Department of Transportation and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), along with the support provided by the Departments of Commerce and State and our new Ambassador and the entire team at the U.S. Embassy in London.

JetBlue operates from Heathrow’s newest terminal – Terminal 2 – which offers travelers a modern airport experience with access to dozens of shops and restaurants. Heathrow travelers benefit from a variety of convenient ground transportation options including the Heathrow Express and London Underground, which offer rail connections with Central London.

Daily Schedule between New York (JFK) and London Heathrow (LHR)
Beginning October 29, 2022 (Eastbound) & October 30, 2022 (Westbound)
JFK – LHR Flight #007 LHR – JFK Flight #20
9:05 p.m. – 9:30 a.m. (+1) 10:45 a.m. – 2:05 p.m.

Growing at Gatwick

JetBlue today also announced is expanding its industry-leading transatlantic service with a third daily flight between New York City and London. Starting October 29, 2022, JetBlue will operate a second daily flight between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and London Gatwick Airport (LGW). The new frequency will complement an existing daily flight between New York and Gatwick, as well as JetBlue’s once daily service between New York and Heathrow. Seats on all new Gatwick flights are on sale later today.

Gatwick is the second busiest U.K. airport and JetBlue operates from the North Terminal, which has a range of passenger facilities including a wide variety of shops and restaurants. Gatwick travelers benefit from a choice of convenient transport options including direct train links to the City of London via Thameslink and to Brighton and other South East Coastal communities via Southern Railway.

Daily Schedule between New York (JFK) and London Gatwick (LGW)
Beginning October 29, 2022 (Eastbound) & October 30, 2022 (Westbound)

JFK – LGW Flight #43

LGW – JFK Flight #44

7:47 p.m. – 8:16 a.m. (+1)

12:00 p.m. – 3:04 p.m.

JFK – LGW Flight #3

LGW – JFK Flight #4

9:59 p.m. – 10:22 a.m. (+1)

2:00 p.m. – 5:05 p.m.

New (to) England

JetBlue’s transatlantic expansion in New York comes as the airline prepares to launch all-new London service in its Boston focus city this summer. Service between Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) and Gatwick launches August 4, 2022 and service between Boston and London Heathrow launches September 20, 2022.

Daily Schedule between Boston (BOS) and London Gatwick (LGW)
Beginning August 4, 2022 (Eastbound) & August 5, 2022 (Westbound)

BOS – LGW Flight #2104

LGW – BOS Flight #1926

6:37 p.m. – 6:35 a.m. (+1)

12:15 p.m. – 3:02 p.m.

Daily Schedule between Boston (BOS) and London Heathrow (LHR)
Beginning September 20, 2022 (Eastbound) & September 21, 2022 (Westbound)

BOS – LHR Flight #1620

LHR – BOS Flight #1621

6:45 p.m. – 6:30 a.m. (+1)

8:25 a.m. – 11:21 a.m.

Between JetBlue’s New York and Boston focus cities, the airline will offer five daily flights between the United Statesand the U.K. JetBlue is the only U.S. carrier to serve both Gatwick and Heathrow, offering customers on both sides of the Atlantic greater choice and convenience. JetBlue’s multi-airport approach in London, with diversified flying at the U.K.’s two busiest airports, has already allowed the airline to grow a meaningful customer base of loyal transatlantic fliers.

Speedier Security

JetBlue today also announced enhanced airport experiences at both Gatwick and Heathrow with new expedited security screening now available to select JetBlue customers. The airline’s Even More Speed option is now automatically included for Mint® customers, Mosaic customers and Mosaic companions traveling on the same reservation, customers who have purchased a Blue Extra fare and for customers who have purchased an Even More® Space seat. To take advantage of this new benefit, customers at Heathrow should follow signs for “Fast Track.” At Gatwick, customers should follow signs for “Premium Security.”

JetBlue flights between the U.S. and London are operated using the Airbus A321LR aircraft with 24 Mint suites, 114 core seats and the sleek and spacious Airspace cabin interior.

JetBlue aircraft photo gallery:

Freebird Airlines returns to London’s Gatwick Airport

Freebird Airlines has returned to London’s Gatwick Airport.

The carrier was forced to suspend operations due to COVID-19.

The Turkish airline is now flying from LGW to Bodrum and Antalya.

The airline also flies from Manchester to Antalya.

Freebird Airlines aircraft photo gallery:

JetBlue to operate to London from Boston this summer

JetBlue Airways will restore flights between its Boston focus city and London starting this summer. New nonstop service between Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) and London Gatwick Airport (LGW) takes off from the U.S. on July 19, 2022, followed by nonstop service between Boston and London Heathrow Airport (LHR) on August 22, 2022.

Flights on both Gatwick and Heathrow routes will operate daily on JetBlue’s new Airbus A321 Long Range (LR) aircraft with 24 redesigned Mint suites, 114 core seats and the sleek and spacious Airspace cabin interior. The A321LR platform – offering the range of a wide-body but with the economics of a single-aisle aircraft – allows JetBlue to effectively compete with the airline’s award-winning service and attractive fares on flights between Boston and London.

Daily Schedule between Boston (BOS) and London Gatwick (LGW)
Beginning July 19, 2022 (Eastbound) & July 20, 2022 (Westbound)

BOS – LGW Flight #2104

LGW – BOS Flight #1926

6:37 p.m. – 6:35 a.m. (+1)

12:15 p.m. – 3:02 p.m.

A Home at Heathrow

JetBlue’s expanded presence at London Heathrow Airport, the city’s busiest, gives the U.S.-based travel company enhanced visibility at the iconic global hub to grow its base of travelers in the U.K. and beyond. JetBlue operates from Heathrow’s newest terminal – Terminal 2 – which offers travelers a modern airport experience with access to dozens of shops and restaurants. Heathrow travelers benefit from a variety of convenient ground transportation options including the Heathrow Express and London Underground, which offer rail connections with Central London.

Daily Schedule between Boston (BOS) and London Heathrow (LHR)
Beginning August 22, 2022 (Eastbound) & August 23, 2022 (Westbound)

BOS – LHR Flight #1620

LHR – BOS Flight #1621

6:32 p.m. – 6:30 a.m. (+1)

8:25 a.m. – 11:13 a.m.

 

Bamboo Airways arrives in London

Bamboo Airways on March 22 arrived at London Heathrow Airport from Hanoi.

This flight was first nonstop commercial flight from Vietnam to the United Kingdom.

The route will operate two days a week.

Photos: Bamboo Airways.

London’s Heathrow Airport only served 19.4 million passengers in 2021

Heathrow Airport issued this statement on social media:

In December, at least 600,000 passengers cancelled travel plans from Heathrow Airport due to Omicron and travel restrictions. Heathrow Airport only welcomed 19.4 million passengers in 2021 – less than one quarter of 2019 and below even 2020 levels.

The full press release:

Aviation is in for long-haul recovery as Omicron causes at least 600,000 passengers to cancel travel plans in December from Heathrow

Heathrow Airport

 

  • COVID-19 continues to pose significant challenges for the travel industry, with Heathrow welcoming only 19.4 million passengers in 2021 – less than one quarter of 2019 and below even 2020 levels
  • At least 600,000 passengers cancelled travel plans from Heathrow in December due to Omicron and the uncertainty caused by swiftly imposed government travel restrictions
  • There is significant doubt over the speed at which demand will recover. IATA forecasts suggest passenger numbers will not reach pre-pandemic levels until 2025, provided travel restrictions are removed at both ends of a route and passengers have confidence they will not return rapidly
  • We are urging the UK government to remove all testing now for fully vaccinated passengers and to adopt a playbook for any future Variants of Concern that is more predictable, limits additional measures only to passengers from high-risk destinations and allows quarantine at home instead of in a hotel
  • This creates enormous uncertainty for the CAA in setting a new five-year regulatory settlement. We believe that the focus should be on improving passenger service, aligning incentives for airlines and airports to work together to rebuild passenger demand and maintaining affordable private financing in uncertain times. This is a chance to safeguard a world-leading hub airport for Britain and avoid a return to the “Heathrow hassle” days of the early 2000s, undermining the UK’s global trading ambitions

Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye said:

“There are currently travel restrictions, such as testing, on all Heathrow routes – the aviation industry will only fully recover when these are all lifted and there is no risk that they will be reimposed at short notice, a situation which is likely to be years away. While this creates enormous uncertainty for the CAA in setting a new 5 year regulatory settlement, it means the regulator must focus on an outcome that improves service, incentivizes growth and maintains affordable private financing.”

 

Traffic Summary
December 2021
Terminal Passengers
(000s)		  Dec 2021 % Change Jan to
Dec 2021		 % Change Jan 2021 to
Dec 2021		 % Change
Market            
UK              226 173.6           1,768 21.1           1,768 21.1
EU              815 134.0           7,258 -9.9           7,258 -9.9
Non-EU Europe              212 161.9           1,537 -13.8           1,537 -13.8
Africa              167 55.2           1,040 -9.4           1,040 -9.4
North America              798 540.4           3,338 -13.6           3,338 -13.6
Latin America              116 172.1              413 -4.3              413 -4.3
Middle East              483 114.6           2,301 -6.6           2,301 -6.6
Asia / Pacific              304 131.3           1,739 -40.3           1,739 -40.3
Total           3,122 173.0          19,393 -12.3          19,393 -12.3
Air Transport Movements  Dec 2021 % Change Jan to
Dec 2021		 % Change Jan 2021 to
Dec 2021		 % Change
Market            
UK           2,118 113.3          17,214 13.5          17,214 13.5
EU           9,792 173.1          72,559 -11.9          72,559 -11.9
Non-EU Europe           2,102 165.7          14,433 -14.7          14,433 -14.7
Africa           1,006 32.7           7,886 5.7           7,886 5.7
North America           4,559 99.6          34,773 0.2          34,773 0.2
Latin America              609 90.3           3,157 6.6           3,157 6.6
Middle East           2,003 33.4          17,044 2.5          17,044 2.5
Asia / Pacific           2,443 14.2          22,966 -6.9          22,966 -6.9
Total          24,632 99.1        190,032 -5.4        190,032 -5.4
Cargo
(Metric Tonnes)		  Dec 2021 % Change Jan to
Dec 2021		 % Change Jan 2021 to
Dec 2021		 % Change
Market            
UK                10 109.5              220 -9.7              220 -9.7
EU           9,093 7.1        121,195 59.3        121,195 59.3
Non-EU Europe           5,151 -12.3          67,602 46.8          67,602 46.8
Africa           8,581 0.1          77,595 12.2          77,595 12.2
North America          45,616 44.3        481,733 24.6        481,733 24.6
Latin America           3,109 -5.9          23,490 -30.4          23,490 -30.4
Middle East          19,471 5.4        228,617 8.0        228,617 8.0
Asia / Pacific          36,157 11.1        402,461 25.7        402,461 25.7
Total        127,188 16.8     1,402,913 22.6     1,402,913 22.6

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Heathrow Airport

JetBlue extends London Heathrow schedule through October 2022

JetBlue Airways today announced it is extending its transatlantic schedule for flights between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and London Heathrow Airport (LHR) through October 2022.

JetBlue was initially welcomed at Heathrow with temporary slots made available as entrenched, larger airlines reduced service during the pandemic. Since its successful transatlantic launch in August 2021, JetBlue has worked with the local authorities to ensure it can continue to shake up the route with much-needed competition.

Before JetBlue launched the route, travelers were limited to expensive flights between JFK and Heathrow, especially in the premium travel segment. JetBlue has set out to do what it does best – offer better service than the incumbent carriers while stimulating competition with low fares. Since launching the route in August, JetBlue has reduced premium fares by up to 50%.

Schedule between New York (JFK) and London Heathrow (LHR)

JFK – LHR Flight #007

LHR – JFK Flight #20

9:38 p.m. – 10:05 a.m. (+1)

2:00 p.m. – 5:08 p.m.