Heathrow Airport confirmed on Monday 28 September that it will launch its own public consultation on plans for a third runway, running for eight weeks from 27 October to 22 December. There is no change to flights, terminals or Heathrow's current operations; the consultation covers only the long-term expansion project, which the airport has already said will not open before 2039.
The announcement follows Prime Minister Andy Burnham's refusal on Sunday to say whether he personally backs the runway, telling the BBC it was "a matter for London and Londoners" and that he wanted to see the results of the consultation before taking a position.
According to Heathrow's official statement, published on its media centre, the consultation will include more than 20 in-person events in local towns and villages, plus six online sessions, where experts on noise, air quality and the environment will answer residents' questions before people give feedback. Heathrow's Director for Communities and Residential Property, Becky Coffin, said the airport agreed "local voices must be heard" and that it wanted local people, businesses and education institutions to have "genuine opportunities to shape and finalise" its plans. Full details of the timings and venues for the in-person events will be published in October, ahead of the consultation opening.
This is a separate process from the government's own consultation on the Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement, which ran from June to September 2026 and set the planning framework the airport's proposals must meet on climate, noise and air quality. Heathrow's own consultation, covering its specific plans for a new runway to the northwest of the airport plus supporting infrastructure, is the step before the airport submits a formal planning application.
Aviation news site AeroTime, reporting on both Burnham's comments and the consultation announcement, noted that Heathrow's expansion remains contested, with London Mayor Sadiq Khan opposed and Burnham himself previously critical of the scheme while Mayor of Greater Manchester.
For passengers, nothing changes in the short term. Heathrow continues to operate as normal on its two existing runways, and the consultation and subsequent planning process mean any expansion remains at least a decade away.
What this means for your journey: with expansion still years off, journey times to and from Heathrow are not affected by this announcement. If you are travelling through the airport, see our guide to Heathrow parking at /parking/ for options if you are driving, or our public transport guide at /public-transport/ for train, bus and coach routes.