Over fifty years in the making, probably ten more to go and subject to lots of approvals, the proposed third runway at London Heathrow has finally been given Government approval to proceed. What’s the future impact on the UK? How will the investment improve connectivity? Which carriers will get to operate on this new, very precious scrap of tarmac?

In a fast-changing industry, quite how that runway will be used and for services to what cities around the globe (or indeed even further!) remain open to discussion. Before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s remember that a lot of work remains: planning approvals,  appeals to planning decisions, legal disputes around process and protocol, construction,  infrastructure development and more. Assuming that there is a smooth path to the development programme and no Berlin Brandenburg type incidents, the third runway will be operational around 2027.

Combining current OAG data with some trend analysis and reviewing competing airport options, we’ve developed a thought-provoking forecast of how some of that planned new capacity could be used in 2017. Our analysis may only be half right by the time the runway feels the first burn of rubber on the tarmac but only time will tell.

Download our latest report today to see how the runway can affect Heathrow's potential in the coming years.