The Guardian
Mark Sweney
15 May 2026
Heathrow could be forced to allow other companies to design and build its third runway and new terminal after the UK aviation regulator argued that rival bids could keep construction costs down.
A long-awaited review by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) proposes changes to the regulatory model that governs how Heathrow runs and covers its costs.
These include making the operator seek bids from other businesses to design, build and operate parts of the long-delayed expansion project at Europe’s busiest airport, which it said “would allow for direct competition between Heathrow and an alternative developer … [that] could encourage competition and efficiency”...
