Heathrow – the engine of global Britain

Heathrow Airport (LHR) functions as critical national infrastructure, central to the UK’s macroeconomic performance and global economic integration. Its unique hub status is indispensable, allowing it to pool passenger and cargo demand to maintain long-haul routes that would otherwise be commercially unviable.

The airport’s most significant role is as the UK’s primary high-value trade hub, facilitating approximately 40% of the value of UK non-EU goods trade. This capability is crucial for time-sensitive, high-cost sectors, such as advanced manufacturing and pharmaceuticals, effectively enabling the ‘Global Britain’ trade strategy that other logistics models cannot provide..

Join IoD Chief Economist Anna Leach and Heathrow Airport retail director Fraser Brown for this one-hour session where we’ll examine the economic utility of London Heathrow Airport, its capacity limits and the opportunities that’ll be created by further expansion.