Heathrow CEO plans to raise landing fees: Report

A woman checks-in in Terminal 2 at Heathrow Airport in London June 4, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A woman checks-in in Terminal 2 at Heathrow Airport in London June 4, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

LONDON (REUTERS) - The United Kingdom's largest airport, Heathrow, is looking to raise the landing fees it charges airlines, Chief Executive Officer John Holland-Kaye told the Financial Times (FT) in an interview.

Mr Holland-Kaye, who takes over as CEO on Tuesday, told FT that Heathrow planned to increase the "aeronautical charge" to 24 pounds (S$51) per passenger from 20 pounds.

Landing fees are a crucial source of income for Heathrow, Britain's busiest airport. The fees are normally passed on by airlines to passengers.

The newspaper reported that the CEO said the proposal was part of a draft funding plan for a third runway that was submitted to UK's Airports Commission. The paper said the CEO was confident of getting the commission's approval for a third runway opening in 2025.

A Heathrow representative could not be reached immediately for comment.

Heathrow Airport Holdings is co-owned by Spanish infrastructure company Ferrovial and other partners.

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