Latest updates
Conservatives pledge to 'do whatever it takes' to build Heathrow's third runway
The Conservative Party pledged on Monday 5 October to "do whatever it takes" to get a third runway built at Heathrow, intensifying a political row that has already pushed the expansion timeline back to 2039.
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American Airlines to end seven-month Heathrow catering crisis by late October
American Airlines expects to restore full local catering on all its London Heathrow departures by 28 October, ending a seven-month disruption that forced the airline to load extra food from the United States on return flights.
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Emirates flight to Heathrow diverts to Frankfurt after mid-air medical emergency
Emirates flight EK31 from Dubai to Heathrow diverted to Frankfurt on Thursday 1 October after a passenger suffered a medical emergency on board, delaying the aircraft's arrival into London by several hours.
Read update →Major flight delays at Heathrow Airport (Wed 30 Sept)
At Heathrow Airport, flights are experiencing delays, with 3 of 20 departures expected to be 45 minutes or more late in the next few hours. There are currently no cancellations reported.
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Rival bidder says Heathrow's third runway plan could slip beyond 2042, escalating expansion row
Surinder Arora, the hotel entrepreneur behind the rival Heathrow West bid to build Heathrow's third runway, said on Tuesday 29 September there is "no way" the airport's own expansion plan can be delivered by its newly revised 2039 target, and that it could slip to 2042 or later.
Read update →Major flight delays at Heathrow Airport (Mon 28 Sept)
At Heathrow Airport, flights are experiencing significant delays, with 3 of 20 departures expected to be 45 minutes or more late in the next few hours. There are currently no cancellations reported.
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Heathrow sets dates for third runway public consultation: 27 October to 22 December
Heathrow Airport confirmed on Monday 28 September that it will launch its own public consultation on plans for a third runway, running for eight weeks from 27 October to 22 December.
Read update →Heathrow Airport this morning: delays of up to 45 minutes (Mon 28 Sept)
Heathrow Airport is currently experiencing some delays, with 4 out of 20 morning departures delayed, the longest being 45 minutes. The majority of flights, 16, are on time.
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Andy Burnham refuses to back Heathrow's third runway, exposing Cabinet rift
Prime Minister Andy Burnham repeatedly refused to say whether he backs a third runway at Heathrow in a BBC interview broadcast on Sunday 27 September, exposing a rift at the top of government over the delayed 33 billion pound expansion project.
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Heathrow's third runway pushed back to 2039, four years later than planned
Heathrow Airport has told the government that its long-planned third runway will not be ready before 2039, four years later than the 2035 target set by ministers, the airport confirmed on Saturday 26 September.
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CAA launches official review into September's air traffic control meltdown that hit Heathrow
The UK Civil Aviation Authority confirmed on Friday 25 September that it has launched a formal independent review into the air traffic control failure that disrupted flights nationwide, including at Heathrow, on 8 September.
Read update →Major flight delays at Heathrow Airport (Fri 25 Sept)
At Heathrow Airport, flights are experiencing significant delays, with 8 of 20 departures expected to be 45 minutes or more late in the next few hours.
Read update →Heathrow Airport this morning: delays of up to 31 minutes (Fri 25 Sept)
Heathrow Airport is currently experiencing some delays, with 4 out of 20 morning departures delayed, the longest being 31 minutes. The majority of flights, 16, are on time.
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British Airways to fly daily between Heathrow and St Louis for four months next summer
British Airways has confirmed it will expand its St Louis to London Heathrow service to daily flights for more than four months of summer 2027, adding over 35,400 seats on the route compared with summer 2026, an 80% increase in capacity.
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IndiGo flight declares mid-air emergency, returns to Heathrow after reported smoke onboard
An IndiGo flight from Heathrow to Delhi was forced to turn back and land as an emergency less than an hour after departure on Tuesday evening, 22 September, after the crew detected a technical issue on board.
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NATS chief under pressure to resign as minister vows to confront board over Heathrow disruption
Transport secretary Heidi Alexander said on Wednesday 23 September that she will meet the chairman of National Air Traffic Services (NATS) "in the coming weeks", as pressure builds on the organisation's chief executive…
Read update →Major flight delays at Heathrow Airport (Tue 22 Sept)
At Heathrow Airport, flights are experiencing significant delays, with 12 of 20 departures expected to be 45 minutes or more late in the next few hours.
Read update →Major flight delays at Heathrow Airport (Mon 21 Sept)
At Heathrow Airport, flights are experiencing significant delays, with 4 of 20 departures expected to be 45 minutes or more late in the next few hours. There are currently no cancellations reported.
Read update →Major flight delays at Heathrow Airport (Sun 20 Sept)
At Heathrow Airport, flights are experiencing significant delays, with 6 of 20 departures expected to be 45 minutes or more late in the next few hours.
Read update →Major flight delays at Heathrow Airport (Sat 19 Sept)
At Heathrow Airport, flights are experiencing delays, with 3 of 20 departures expected to be 45 minutes or more late in the next few hours. There are currently no cancellations reported.
Read update →Here are the recent changes at Heathrow Airport that affect how you travel, from new routes and price changes to construction and security rules. This page was last updated in August 2026. It covers what has changed, not today's live status.
Checking live delays and departures today
For today's delays, cancellations and live departure boards, check the official Heathrow Airport website and your airline app, or a flight tracker such as Flightradar24. This page tracks the changes that stick, not minute-by-minute status.
Security rule changes
- 23 January 2026 Heathrow removed the 100ml cabin liquids limit across all four terminals after a £1bn upgrade to next-generation CT security scanners. Passengers may now carry containers up to 2 litres and can leave liquids and laptops/tablets inside their bags; the clear plastic bag requirement is gone. Note many other airports (including Luton and Manchester) still enforce the old 100ml rule, so check the rules at your return airport too. (source) (source) (source)
Construction / expansion
- 29 July 2026 Airlines and passengers face higher charges to fund early costs of Heathrow's expansion. The Civil Aviation Authority's draft decision capped recovery of early planning and design costs at £320m (2024 prices) for 2025 to 2026, expected to add roughly 15p to the maximum charge per passenger in 2028, rising to around 30p in later years, spread over 20 to 25 years. (source) (source) (source)
- 18 June 2026 The government published its draft Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement (a revised, Heathrow-only successor to the Airports National Policy Statement), the planning framework for a third runway. A public consultation runs to 1 September 2026, and a parliamentary scrutiny period runs from 22 June to 26 November 2026. Heathrow welcomed the draft as a critical milestone towards its target of planning permission by 2029. (source) (source) (source)
- 19 December 2025 Heathrow confirmed a £1.3bn investment programme for 2026, following record 2025 growth and punctuality. It funds a phased Terminal 4 revamp (new multi-storey car park and upgraded check-in, completing 2031), a new Terminal 2 baggage system handling 31,000 bags a day, accessibility upgrades, and an AI camera network across aircraft stands (full coverage by end of 2026). (source) (source)
New routes / airlines
- Summer 2026 New Heathrow services announced for the summer season include Rome and Seattle, plus connections to St Louis, Seville, Tivat, Guernsey, Islamabad and Lahore; new entrant airlines this year include ITA Airways, Alaska Airlines and Riyadh Air. (source) (source)
Parking, drop-off and fares
- 23 July 2026 RAC analysis found average drop-off fees at the UK's busiest airports have risen by about a third since last summer, and the last free major-airport drop-off disappeared as London City introduced charges; all 10 of the EU's busiest airports remain free. Heathrow charges £7 with a 10-minute maximum at terminal forecourts; free drop-off remains at its Park & Ride car parks. (source) (source)
- 1 January 2026 Heathrow raised its terminal Drop-Off Charge from £6 to £7 per visit and introduced a strict 10-minute maximum stay at all terminal forecourts (T2, T3, T4, T5). Unpaid drop-offs trigger a Parking Charge Notice of £80 (reduced to £40 if paid within 14 days). Free drop-off and pick-up remain available at the Park & Ride car parks. (source) (source)
Passenger records / milestones
- 11 August 2026 Heathrow reported its busiest day of 2026 so far: 267,000 passengers on 19 July, within a July total of 7.85 million. 98.5% of passengers cleared security in under five minutes, new entrants ITA Airways, Alaska Airlines and Riyadh Air carried over 136,000 passengers in the month, and 12 July was the busiest cargo day of the year at 5,000 tonnes. Heathrow noted it was overtaken by Istanbul as Europe's busiest hub in July and repeated its case for expansion. (source) (source)
- 23 July 2026 Heathrow's half-year results showed a record 40 million passengers in the first six months of 2026 (up from 39.9 million a year earlier), with Asia-Pacific traffic up 7.9% and transfer passengers up 5.4%. Revenue was £1.729bn (up 0.3%) and adjusted EBITDA £915m (down 4.6%), with higher costs blamed partly on increased government taxes. (source) (source)
- Full year 2025 Heathrow set an all-time record of 84.5 million passengers, its busiest year ever and Europe's busiest hub. 1 August 2025 was its busiest-ever single day at around 270,000 travellers, and December 2025 was its busiest December at 7.2m. The airport forecasts around 85m passengers in 2026 with a £1.3bn investment programme. (source)
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Last verified August 2026 by the Heathrow Airport Guide editorial team. Prices and timetables change, so confirm the specifics on the official Heathrow Airport website before you travel.