Heathrow expansion should bear carbon removal costs: UK advisers

Climate Change Committee says such an expansion would make it difficult for the UK to meet its carbon emissions reduction targets

Sep 19, 2026 - 16:30

Updated: 14 hours ago

Heathrow expansion should bear carbon removal costs: UK advisers

The most acute worry is at Heathrow Airport, London, pictured March 31, 2026. Photo: Stefan Rousseau/PA Images via Getty Images

All airlines would have to bear the cost of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere if London’s Heathrow Airport is expanded, the UK government’s climate advisory body, the Climate Change Committee (CCC), has recommended.

A section of the UK government supports building a third runway and a new terminal at Heathrow. However, the CCC says such an expansion would make it difficult for the UK to meet its carbon emissions reduction targets. It could even prevent the country from achieving its goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.

In a report submitted to the government yesterday, the CCC said the aviation sector would have to become more efficient to keep the Heathrow expansion aligned with climate targets. The sector would also need to increase its use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) instead of fossil fuels. At the same time, measures would have to be taken to permanently remove and store carbon from the atmosphere.

CCC Chair Nigel Topping said, 'If the airport is expanded, the aviation sector will have to take responsibility for reducing its own emissions. The government should legislate to ensure that by 2050, all forms of carbon emissions from the sector are either directly reduced or addressed through the use of carbon removal technologies.'

He said the 'polluter pays' principle should be followed in this regard.

Analysts said the costs could ultimately be passed on to passengers. According to the CCC, airlines could add the costs of SAF and carbon removal to ticket prices. If these costs are increased gradually, a return flight from the UK to the Spanish city of Alicante could cost around £150 more by 2050. A return flight to New York could cost around £400 more. These costs could be added gradually over the next 25 years.

Environmental groups have criticised the CCC’s plan. They said carbon removal and SAF technologies are still at an early stage. There is also uncertainty over whether they can be made ready for use on the required scale quickly enough.