Half of Britons support increasing airport capacity, but environmental concerns are key

A recent Ipsos UK poll conducted on January 27-28, 2025, reveals Britons’ views on the debate over airport expansion. While approximately half (49%) of the 982 British adults surveyed support increased airport capacity, there are a range of views on the best site for this (though Heathrow is most preferred), and they want environmental factors to play a key role in decision-making.

Key findings 

• Half support increased airport capacity: When asked about airport expansion more broadly (either through building more airports or expanding existing ones), 49% of Britons say that the country’s capacity should be increased, though 35% disagree and 16% don’t know. Conservative 2024 voters (60%) and men (64%) are most in favour of increased expansion, but women are more divided (35% think it should be increased, 43% do not).
• Heathrow expansion preferred, but alternatives exist: Among those who favour increased capacity, expanding Heathrow with a third runway is the most popular choice (36% as the best way, 18% as the second-best way).  However, expanding an airport outside London (29% best, 23% second-best) and building a new airport altogether (19% best, 22% second-best) also hold considerable support.

• Environmental concerns are key to opposition: The primary reason for opposing increased airport capacity is the potential harm to the natural environment (58%), followed closely by concerns about increased carbon emissions (55%).  Other significant concerns include believing existing capacity is sufficient (52%) and prioritising other areas for investment (50%).  Similarly, the factors that the public as a whole think are most important for the government to consider when deciding whether to increase airport capacity are the impact on the natural environment (43%) and the amount of additional air pollution it could cause (40%).

Gideon Skinner, Senior Director of UK Politics at Ipsos said: 

Our latest polling demonstrates the pros and cons in the public mind in the debate over airport expansion. While around half of Britons do support the need for increased capacity, concerns over the environmental impact loom large. Again, this demonstrates the challenge facing the government over its plans for economic growth, where the public want to see improvements, but also to feel that their priorities are being listened to.  The backing of Heathrow expansion in a speech by Chancellor Rachel Reeves this morning throws this debate into even sharper relief.

Technical note: 

• Ipsos interviewed a representative sample of 982 online British adults aged 18-75 across Great Britain between 27th - 28th January 2025. 
• Data are weighted to match the profile of the population. All polls are subject to a wide range of potential sources of error.