Now formal proposals have been submitted to develop a third runway at Heathrow Airport, Senior Policy Manager at business group Logistics UK Alexandra Herdman explains why the successful scheme must include detailed plans for developing airfreight.

“Heathrow is the UK’s biggest port by value, and a critical hub which provides access to the rest of the UK and the world for British business. It is essential that the final scheme makes full provision for developing airfreight alongside passenger flights, to smooth imports and exports and enable industry to drive growth. Increasing airport capacity is a vital component to ensure UK plc continues to grow and reach new global markets.

“Industry has been urging the government for a long time to support nationally significant infrastructure projects, such as the third runway at Heathrow, and it is vital that these projects are now developed at pace to boost growth across the whole economy as quickly as possible.”

Logistics UK is one of the UK’s biggest business groups, representing logistics businesses which are vital to keeping the UK trading, and more than seven million people are directly employed in the making, selling and moving of goods. With decarbonisation, Brexit, new technology and other disruptive forces driving change in the way goods move across borders and through the supply chain, logistics has never been more important to UK plc. Logistics UK supports, shapes and stands up for safe and efficient logistics, and is the only business group which represents the whole industry, with members from the road, rail, water and air industries, as well as the buyers of freight services such as retailers and manufacturers whose businesses depend on the efficient movement of goods.