Air, Freight News, Logistics

BIFA Weighs in on Heathrow Airport Expansion

[ August 7, 2025   //   Gary Burrows ]

British International Freight Association Director General Steve Parker, while echoing BIFA’s support for Heathrow Airport’s long overdue expansion, has called for the UK government to get on with it.

“Over the past decades, successive UK governments have shown a singular lack of vision in the face of a massive surge in air transport and consequent pressure on existing airport infrastructure in the south east,” Parker said in a Aug. 1 release.

In response to the proposals submitted to the government, he added: “It is for government, not BIFA, to comment on the viability of the proposals put forward.

“BIFA members, who facilitate a significant proportion of the UK’s visible international trade through gateways like Heathrow, just want to see the government abide by its objective to enable the delivery of an operational third runway by 2035.

“That will require swift decisions on the proposals that have been submitted, in order for applications for planning consent to come forward in time to enable decisions to be made this Parliament.

“BIFA’s hope is that if that is achieved, we may finally see the start on a long overdue expansion of UK aviation hub capacity,” he said, calling for “everyone, including politicians of all parties, to pull together in the national interest and support the bold plans to expand … Europe’s most important aviation hub.”

While BIFA awaiting news about a third runway, it has focused on the airport’s cargo development, and the trade association is working closely with the airport to support its ambitious plans.

The latest plans and software enhancements, which were revealed in October, would mean a significant redevelopment of the cargo estate over the next two to three years, as the airport looks to accommodate rising demand, modernize some aging first-line cargo handling facilities, and improve cargo flows and efficiency.

Tags: British International Freight Association, Heathrow Airport