TMC network Advantage Travel Partnership and the Business Travel Association have become the latest members of the new Heathrow Reimagined campaign.

The group, which was formed last month in the wake of the UK government¡¯s decision to back a third runway at London Heathrow Airport, already includes the Heathrow Airline Operators¡¯ Committee (AOC), Arora Group, British Airways¡¯ owner IAG and Virgin Atlantic.

The Heathrow Reimagined campaign is lobbying the UK¡¯s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to conduct an ¡°urgent review¡± into the airport¡¯s future charges to ¡°ensure the right framework is in place before passengers and airlines are locked into high charges for decades to come¡±.

The group has also been bolstered by two other new members: the Board of Airlines Representatives (BAR UK), which represents international airlines operating flights to the UK, and the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).

Clive Wratten, the BTA¡¯s CEO,?said: ¡°We need a clear and fair cost strategy that protects all travellers, especially those travelling for business and are already balancing increased operational overheads.

¡°The BTA looks forward to working with the industry as part of this Heathrow Reimagined campaign to ensure that the airport¡¯s expansion and regulatory reform strengthens the UK¡¯s global connectivity without creating unnecessary financial burdens for the businesses who rely on it.¡±

While Julia Lo Bue-Said, CEO of Advantage,?added: ¡°Heathrow is the most expensive airport in the world but it certainly does not offer the best passenger experience in return. As we continue to see a cost-of-living crisis in the UK, passengers shouldn¡¯t be paying a penny more than is necessary.?

¡°We would welcome regulatory intervention so we can better understand why our customers pay so much more to use Heathrow than any other airport globally. This is more important now than ever, as the costs associated with a third runway could potentially extrapolate these high charges even further.¡±

Heathrow Reimagined has criticised the privately owned airport for ¡°years of declining passenger experience and ageing infrastructure¡±. It estimates that passengers and airlines using Heathrow are ¡°paying ?1.1 billion more each year than if charges were in line with equivalent major European airports¡±.

The level of Heathrow¡¯s charges, which are regulated by the CAA, has been the source of contention between the airport and the airlines for decades.

The airport was ordered to reduce its charges by the CAA in 2023 ¨C a decision which was appealed by both Heathrow, which wanted to increase charges, and several airlines who attempted to reduce them further. ?