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In the United Kingdom's July 2024 General Election, the Labour Party secured a majority in parliament, ending over a decade of Conservative governance. This political shift was anticipated to influence the controversial London Heathrow expansion plan, which includes constructing a third runway. However, Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to endorse the project in an upcoming speech.
Heathrow Airport currently faces significant congestion issues with limited available slots despite airlines' demands for expansion. easyJet has expressed interest in operating at Heathrow "at scale" if the expansion proceeds, as reported by Aviation Week.
The proposed third runway aims to alleviate pressure on existing infrastructure and meet airline and passenger demand but raises environmental concerns. The previous Conservative government supported the £14 billion ($17.5 billion) project, which passed through parliament in 2018 but was deemed unlawful by the Court of Appeal in early 2020. The UK Supreme Court overturned this decision later that year, yet the project stalled due to COVID-19 and wavering political support.
