The £20million make-over of Heathrow’s southern runway is one step closer, after the completion of the replacement of the asphalt surface, and the start of the final installation of the new lights and cabling. After a decade of continuous pounding by millions of aircraft taking off and landing, the runways at Heathrow are undergoing vital refurbishment to ensure they are safe and in good order.

Heathrow saw 6.9 million passengers in July, a 5.5 per cent increase on July 2012. The growth is largely attributable to lower traffic in July last year as a result of the timing of the London Olympics.

A survey of Heathrow’s passengers shows they are willing to pay for investment to further improve the airport – and that they are prepared to pay more than Heathrow is proposing. Heathrow’s Alternative Business Plan, which it has submitted to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), makes efficiency savings totalling £427m, putting the increase in charges at less than a pound a year per ticket. At this level investors would invest £3bn to further improve the airport.

Services are getting back to normal at Heathrow Airport this morning following the closure of two runways last night after a fire broke out on an Ethiopian Airlines plane.

The aviation industry’s commitment to reducing the impact of aircraft noise took another step forward at Heathrow earlier, with the arrival of British Airways’ first Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The aircraft boasts a noise footprint 60 per cent quieter than similarly sized aircraft and will be the fourth B787 to operate out of Heathrow.

Heathrow is better located for passengers, business and jobs than a new hub airport at Stansted or in the Thames Estuary according to new analysis published today… by London Heathrow. The new report, entitled “Best placed for Britain”, argues expanding Heathrow is the quickest way for Britain to get ahead in the global race, connecting the UK to growing markets around the world faster and at less cost to the taxpayer than any other hub option.