On one of the warmest evenings of the year over 200 local residents came together to support Back Heathrow – the community organisation that campaigns for a new runway.

Parmjit Dhanda, Executive Director of Back Heathrow welcomed guests at the Indian Gymkhana Club in Hounslow last Tuesday, saying that the event was the largest gathering of supporters since Covid struck in 2020. With guests from the Chambers of Commerce, trade unions, local councillors and residents from areas around Heathrow; the strength and depth of its 100,000 supporters was clear to see.

Back Heathrow supporters from Spelthorne had the pleasure of being joined by their MP, former Chancellor, the Right Honourable Kwasi Kwarteng MP at the local council chambers in Staines on 30^th June, where he reiterated the importance of a new runway at Heathrow. 

From a Freedom of Information Request, Back Heathrow can reveal the previous Conservative-led Windsor and Maidenhead council spent a whopping £43,531.93 on anti-Heathrow expansion campaigning from April 2020.

Ealing Southall MP - Virendra Sharma, local councillors, trade unionists and over 100 local residents joined together to call for the creation of thousands more jobs through sustainable growth at Heathrow Airport at a meeting in Southall last Friday.

Virendra Sharma MP said: “It was a pleasure to see so many local people, I know the importance of Heathrow as a local employer. So I will continue to work with trade unions and others to press for more unionised jobs and sustainable growth at the airport.”

The Heathrow Employment and Skills Academy is playing a key role in helping local people find work at the airport. Over 800 people received employment offers through the Academy in 2022.

Campaign group Back Heathrow paid a visit to one of the Academy’s ‘Essential Skills’ workshops last week, to hear about the opportunities available and how local people can build a career at the airport.

Back Heathrow, the campaign group that represents over 100,000 residents that live close to the airport, has expressed concerns about today’s CAA decision on how much Heathrow can charge airlines.

Back Heathrow campaign response to Civil Aviation Authority price cap proposal

Back Heathrow, the campaign group that represents over 100,000 residents that live close to the airport, has welcomed the airport’s assurances on jobs and pay to staff, but expressed concern that the Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) price cap proposals would be welcomed by rival hub airports on the continent.

Discussions have taken place between Heathrow Airport and GMB trade union about the potential wider rollout of the London Living Wage. It was announced earlier this year that Heathrow would pay the London Living Wage (LLW) to all directly employed staff. 

L-R Parmjit Dhanda, Paula Stannett (Heathrow's Executive HR Director), John Holland-Kaye, Gary Smith, Mark Betteridge (GMB Head of Campaigns & Communication)

Local campaign group Back Heathrow has welcomed the opening of the keenly awaited Elizabeth line this morning. The group, which has over 100,000 supporters, says the opening of the new line is ‘great news for Londoners and for Heathrow.’ Transport for London (TfL) suggests the new line will increase rail capacity in London by 10%.

With the May local council elections looming, Back Heathrow, the local voice for over 100,000 residents who support the aviation industry in west London, is urging political parties to put forward council candidates with experience of aviation and its supply chain.

Parmjit Dhanda, executive director of Back Heathrow said: “London’s jobs and economy depends on its airports to survive, particularly Heathrow. But over the last two years the government has failed to understand the impact that a lack of business rate rebate and a byzantine Covid testing system has had on the economy.

“The capital can only benefit from having councillors who have worked in the aviation industry and fully understand its importance to London’s economy. We want all parties to ‘think aviation’ when putting forward their candidates for the May elections.”

Back Heathrow believes the elections are a chance for parties to respond to a world changed by the impact of Covid on London boroughs now facing economic hardship. For example, during the crisis Hounslow had over 30,000 residents on furlough and Hayes & Harlington in Hillingdon had a 200% increase in unemployment.

Mr Dhanda added: “The economic hardships faced by so many Londoners are largely due to the downturn in aviation. There are political solutions to this, but the long-awaited rescue plan for aviation never seemed to happen. Perhaps local councils can help change that in May.”