Heathrow third runway: Climate advisers say expansion needs airlines to pay for cleaner flying

The UK Climate Change Committee says Heathrow's third runway should only be approved if the aviation industry pays for cleaner fuels and carbon removal. Without those conditions, expansion is not compatible with the UK net zero target. The advice does not block the project, but it shifts the cost question onto airlines and passengers. The committee estimates a return flight to Alicante could cost around £150 more by 2050, and a return to New York about £400 more, if spread over 25 years. Engineered carbon removal is central to the plan, but credible projects cover only 1% of what would be needed by the late 2030s. Airlines reject the approach, saying it would make flying unaffordable. The government says it will consider the advice, but ministers have signaled they intend to proceed. A Commons vote expected later this year will decide the planning framework. The CCC report is one input, not the final word.