Join our campaign here: 

Who are We?

Back Heathrow started life in 2013 as a grassroots organisation to promote expansion at Heathrow Airport, following the Davies Commission in 2011, which explored the options for additional runway capacity in South East England. 

Since the onset of the pandemic, we have campaigned to protect jobs at the airport, in aviation and across the wider travel industry.

We also campaign to make aviation more sustainable, so future generations can continue to benefit from air travel.

We have 100,000 supporters – bringing together residents, businesses and community groups across west London and the Thames Valley, who have already signed up to our campaign to secure a bright future for Heathrow Airport and defend its 100,000 jobs.

For a better, greener and stronger Heathrow, join our campaign today.

 Click here for a map of where our supporters live.

Why Back Heathrow?

Jobs

The collapse of air travel resulting from the pandemic demonstrated aviation's importance to places such as Hounslow and Slough, which had the highest rates of furlough over 2020/21. When the airport suffers, local communities suffer too.

We want the best deal for Heathrow and the aviation industry and want Heathrow to keep its status as Europe’s premier airport after the pandemic.

A hub airport

A hub airport, such as Heathrow, connects many short-haul routes across Europe and the UK with longer transatlantic and Indo-Pacific routes. With so many long-haul routes converging from one airport, this brings increased trade and investment to the local area and wider economy.

And as an airport, Heathrow was thriving before the pandemic - operating at 98% capacity, whilst catering 78% of the UK’s long haul flights.

Heathrow is the UK's only hub airport. Point-to-point airports (like Gatwick) cannot provide the number of connections that Heathrow can. Without continued investment at Heathrow, the airport and the country, will lose out on crucial domestic and international links - limiting trade, tourism and growth.

Heathrow in the pandemic

Despite the reduction in passenger numbers, Heathrow has demonstrated its strategic importance for the country during the pandemic.

 With only one runway operating, Heathrow experienced a 409% rise in ‘cargo only’ flights, carrying essential medical equipment and supplies for frontline teams battling against the pandemic.

This shows – as the Centre for Economics and Business Research reported – that Heathrow is Britain’s most important port by value.

What you can do

Heathrow needs more capacity and better protection for the thousands of jobs the airport supports. To help our efforts, join our campaign today.

 As a supporter you can:

• Stay up-to-date with the latest Heathrow related news and the recovery in the wider aviation and travel sector
• Participate in our online events with industry stakeholders
• Join our community events in the west London and Thames Valley area – COVID restrictions permitting.

So please take a moment to fill out our form below.