The Airport Operator Spring 2025
Mark Goldstone
March 2025
“Our airports play a key role in facilitating exports”. By Mark Goldstone, Policy Manager – UK Competitiveness, Confederation of British Industry.
Much has been made of recent announcements by the Chancellor in her growth speech in late January about the expansion of UK airports.
More recently Heathrow’s announcement of multi-billion-pound investments in the redevelopment of existing terminal buildings whilst also preparing to submit plans to government to build the long discussed third runway have also taken place. Likewise, the recent announcement by the Secretary of State for Transport that she is minded to approve Gatwick’s Northern Runway plans is positive.
As an island nation, connectivity to global markets is essential and our airports play a key role in facilitating exports, both of goods and services. A recent CBI report specifically highlighted the UK services industry as a global success story, accounting for 90 per cent of our GDP in 2023 and over four-fifths of employment in 2024. The UK is the second largest exporter of services in the world and their value to our economy is only growing, with the UK doubling
its services exports since 2016.
The expansion of Heathrow is expected to have significant economic benefits. The Davies Commission estimated that building a third runway would create more than 70,000 new jobs by 2050 and add £147 billion to GDP. Similarly, expansions at Gatwick and Luton airports are projected to create thousands of jobs and generate substantial economic benefits.
Proposals for a new runway at Gatwick will inject £1bn into the UK economy every year upon completion and are forecast to generate 14,000 new jobs. Leeds Bradford Airport has also
commenced work on a £100 million investment to regenerate its terminal facilities, significantly enhancing the passenger experience and driving economic growth for the region. This redevelopment is forecast to create 1,500 new direct jobs at LBA and 4,000 new indirect jobs, as well as contribute a total of £940 million to the local economy.
Read on: Pages 18 - 19 AirportsUK-Magazine_Spring-2025c.pdf
