Heathrow’s £49bn gamble: is bigger really better for London’s connectivity?

Debate continues to rage about the proposed expansion of Heathrow, with the need for growth pitched against protecting the planet.

In the first six months of the year, Heathrow welcomed more passengers than ever, totalling a record 39.9 million. This summer Heathrow Airport unveiled its £49bn plans for a third runway - to be funded by private finance - which could be operational by 2035. CEO Thomas Woldbye called the planned extension "urgent" as the airport is currently working at capacity "to the detriment of trade and connectivity".

Chancellor Rachel Reeves agrees the third runway is “badly needed”, and expansion has also been approved at Gatwick as well as London’s Stansted, City and Luton airports. But opponents, including London Mayor Sadiq Khan, warn of the impact on noise and air pollution, and say it would threaten the UK’s climate change targets.

So what would this expansion mean for the UK’s events industry? Is London under-served – and does the sector risk missing out without the additional capacity?

‘Infrastructure supports large-scale events’

Charlee Gough, MD, MCI UK Photo Credit: image supplied

"We rarely see London lose out on major conferences due to flight access," says Charlee Gough, MD of MCI UK. "Continued investment in capacity is, however, vital to maintain the UK’s competitiveness. Heathrow’s expansion will reinforce its role as the main international hub for long-haul and premium business travel, while Gatwick’s approved runway development adds resilience and route diversification. 

"We’re already seeing how this infrastructure supports large-scale events: MCI is planning an international congress at ExCeL next year welcoming over 16,000 delegates and the Elizabeth line’s direct link to Heathrow was a decisive factor in securing it.”

Gough notes that it’s possible to “combine world-class connectivity with world-class responsibility” to ensure that as capacity grows, “so too does our ability to travel and host events more sustainably, for the benefit of London and the wider UK”.

Lee Hird, Zentive Photo Credit: image supplied

Lee Hird, director of Zentive Agency, a B Corp-certified London-based firm, says the expansion of Heathrow may serve London's needs – but what about the rest of the UK? "The money would be better invested in our rail infrastructure to better connect the north with the south, then it would affect the UK on a wider geographic basis," he says. 

Zentive encourages delegates coming from within Europe, particularly those living close to major cities, to travel by train where possible; Lee voiced concerns that increasing the number of flights to Heathrow would affect the city's air pollution and produce more emissions.

"London is a very well-connected city: in this role and earlier roles, I don't think we've ever had an issue with flight availability to the extent that would justify the expansion of an airport that's already huge," he adds. "And without improvements to the rail network, once they fly into Heathrow it doesn't help with connectivity beyond London."

‘Future investment is crucial’

James Rees, Excel London Photo Credit: image supplied

Events booked by North American companies including Amazon, Google and Microsoft now account for 60 per cent of London Excel’s convention business, and improvements to the overall transport network are also high on the wishlist for James Rees, executive director. 

“London is a thriving financial and tech hub, with a booming events industry. But it’s a competitive market and to remain a tier one city, it cannot rest on its laurels,” says James. “Frictionless travel in, across and out of London is one of the key attractions for the international convention and congress market. 

“London Heathrow is Europe’s busiest airport and the fifth busiest in the world, so future investment is crucial. Delegates demand fast, direct and ease of travel, which Heathrow delivers in spades, but this also must be complemented throughout the city’s transport network.”

The 2024 European Society of Cardiology Congress saw record numbers attending, with organisers citing the Elizabeth line and improved connectivity as a contributing factor, he adds. “The high-speed Elizabeth line has been a game-changer for London and Excel. The event landscape will only grow in terms of competitiveness, and therefore we support continued investment in London’s transport infrastructure.”

Rosangela Quieti, AIM Italy Photo Credit: image supplied

London faces other challenges for international conference business, says Rosangela Quieti, general manager congress division, AIM Italy. She points out that the combined effect of higher costs of hotels, venues and services, and Brexit-related complications sometimes discourage organisers from choosing London over other European cities. And, in some cases, more limited long-haul links do risk London being overlooked. 

“For certain long-haul destinations - secondary Asian cities, parts of Africa, and South America - London has fewer direct flights than hubs like Paris CDG, Frankfurt, Amsterdam Schiphol, or Dubai. This can make the city slightly less competitive for global events drawing large numbers of delegates from those regions.”