Regulator caps funding for early costs of Heathrow expansion

Heathrow will be allowed to add about 15 pence more per passenger in 2028 to cover early costs tied to expanding Britain’s busiest airport, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said Wednesday when setting funding limits for the project. The regulator approved recovery of what Heathrow spent in 2025 and 2026 through airport charges, capped at £320 million. The CAA said an unselected alternative expansion plan can recoup about £4.1 million. Under the framework, the maximum airport charge per passenger would rise by roughly 15 pence in 2028, reaching an estimated 30 pence in later years. The CAA will consult on costs from 2027 onward later this year.