The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has launched an official consultation on a shortlist of regulatory models that may apply to the proposed capacity expansion at Heathrow Airport.
The consultation itself follows a working paper previously published in November 2025, which explored the feasibility of an alternative model for capacity expansion and whether it might better serve the interests of those using the airport.
This paper detailed the case for changing the current regulatory model at Heathrow, a qualitative framework for evaluating options and a longlist of potential regulatory models, and was developed on submissions from stakeholders – including Heathrow Airport Limited, Arora and Heathrow Reimagined. It also took into consideration other regulatory models used across other industries and internationally.
The latest consultation launched by the CAA aims to narrow these options down to a shortlist of models that the regulator proposes to explore in greater detail in subsequent stages, including one model that would depend on necessary planning consents being granted to an alternative developer.
Shortlisted models include:
- Enhancements to the existing framework: A package of measures to strengthen the current regulatory approach, including improvements to capital expenditure governance, incentives and scrutiny of Heathrow Airport Limited’s procurement processes
- Longer-term price control model: A model looking at a longer-term framework for regulation to provide greater flexibility to support cost effective longer-term financing at the airport
- Competitive delivery models: Models that could create new obligations on Heathrow Airport Limited to competitively tender elements of the capacity expansion programme, while retaining overall responsibilities for the coordination and financing of expansion
- Alternative developer model: A model that could involve competition from an alternative developer that would design, build, finance, own and operate an asset, such as a new terminal
The consultation is set to run until 15 June 2026, after which the CAA has announced intentions to issue a high-level update on the outcome in July 2026, with a further document set to be published in the Autumn detailing additional work. The Government is also expected to consult on revisions to theAirports National Policy Statement (ANPS) by July 2026.
