Heathrow expansion would take thousands of jobs from other UK regions, report finds

Airports in England and Wales are likely to lose millions of passengers if third runway goes ahead, DfT economic paper shows Expanding Heathrow airport will take thousands of jobs from other regions of the UK, including almost 10,000 from the West Midlands alone, according to an analysis of the government’s own forecasts. An economic paper published by the Department for Transport last month shows that airports in England and Wales are likely to lose millions of passengers if Heathrow builds a third runway, in a significant blow to regional jobs. Birmingham airport alone is set to lose out on 7.5 million passengers a year by 2050 – a decrease that equates to about 9,500 jobs foregone at the airport and in its supply chain, according to economists. The findings could cast further doubt over the political support for the expansion, a little over a week after Andy Burnham became prime minister. The previous chancellor, Rachel Reeves, was a vocal champion of the plans for a third runway; while Burnham has said too much infrastructure spend goes on the south of England and has promised to rebalance spending with a No 10 North. The New Economics Foundation (NEF) said the report showed th