UK. Heathrow Airport has announced plans for a £1.3 billion (US$1.7 billion) investment in infrastructure in 2026 with an upgrade of Terminal 4 a core focus.
Work will begin on a new multi-storey car park and upgraded check-in area in T4, which is expected to be completed in 2031.
Other projects will include a new, dedicated baggage system for Terminal 2 alongside installation of a network of cameras across Heathrow’s aircraft stands that will use AI to analyse data and speed up turnaround times between flights.
2026 will see fresh investment for passengers with accessibility needs. A new purpose-built assistance area in T2 will offer direct, dedicated access to security for the first time.
Alongside new mobility equipment, Heathrow is investing in upgrades to assistance areas across the airport. The airport will also introduce its new Tailored Travel Guide – which it said was the first of its kind for a UK airport – enabling passengers with access needs to input their travel details and receive a personalised step-by-step guide to navigate the airport.
Today’s announcement is part of Heathrow’s current five-year investment programme (known as H7). Separately, the UK government has approved a third runway at Heathrow, which could be operational in a decade.
In July, Heathrow announced its five-year plan for regulatory period H8 with a £10 billion (US$13.4 billion) investment to 2031, with capacity to expand to around 95 million passengers a year.
Heathrow CEO Thomas Woldbye said: “Last December, we said we’d invest in operational performance and this year we’re the most punctual hub in Europe, almost 99% of bags travelled on expected flights and 97% of security queue times were below five minutes. In January, all passengers in all four terminals will benefit from going through new next-generation security.
“I’m excited to unveil next year’s programme which will make Heathrow more user-friendly, more efficient and more resilient for our customers. This investment will flow directly into our nationwide supply chain helping to drive economic growth while we make Heathrow even better and more efficient for our customers.” ✈
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