British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has declined to give explicit backing to Heathrow’s proposed third runway, saying the decision is primarily for London and Londoners. His remarks, made in a BBC interview on Sunday, came as Heathrow warned that the expansion could slip to 2039, four years later than the government’s earlier target.
The comments leave the UK’s busiest airport facing fresh political and regulatory uncertainty around a project that has long divided ministers, local communities and environmental campaigners. Burnham, who previously opposed the scheme as mayor of Greater Manchester, stressed that local voices should be heard before any final position is taken.
Heathrow continues to pursue planning permission by 2029, but there is no live application yet and the consultation process is still under way. The airport has described 2035 as an ambitious deadline, while the latest delay guidance points to further complexity in securing approvals and moving the project into construction.