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Differences Between London Heathrow and US Airports

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Differences Between London Heathrow and US Airports

Heathrow differs from US airports in management structure, pricing strategies, and

expansion and infrastructure development. One of the main differences between London

Heathrow and airports in the US is ownership and management. Heathrow operates under

private license and control. On the other hand, in the US, a significant number of airports

are either publicly owned or operated by the federal government. Heathrow Airport

Holdings Limited, a private company, owns Heathrow Airport. This private ownership

gives Heathrow greater flexibility in decision-making processes on landing fees, passenger

numbers and expansion planning. In contrast, US airports are usually owned by local or

state governments or operated by airport authorities. This public ownership can create

different priorities, regulatory frameworks and funding mechanisms. US airports are

generally governed by government oversight and regulations, which limits their flexibility

relative to Heathrow.

Another notable difference is the landing fees and pricing methods. Heathrow has

faced criticism from airlines for increasing landing fees, with some pilots accusing the

airport of "coughing up prices". Such disputes have strained and troubled relations

between Heathrow and airlines (Gill., 2023). This issue stems from Heathrow's ability to

set landing fees and other fees for airlines freely. A privately owned airport gives it so

much control over pricing. That means they can increase price rates anytime, unlike other

airlines, which fall into conflict when they charge exorbitant rates. The US airlines are

regulated by law over many airports, and the opinions of various stakeholders often

determine airport costs. Regulatory bodies and public ownership can lead to more

transparent and regulated fee structures and potentially fewer frictions between airports

and airlines.
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The expansion and infrastructure create a distinct difference between Heathrow

and US airports. Heathrow has grappled with the challenges of expanding its services,

notably the ambitious plan to build a third runway. Although initially approved by the UK

Parliament, legal hurdles to the expansion had to be reconsidered. This event highlighted

the challenges of pursuing airport expansion in the United Kingdom. In contrast, US

airports face difficulties in expansion projects. Generally, airport expansions and

developments in the United States require stakeholder cooperation. These stakeholders

include federal, state, and local authorities and compliance with environmental and local

regulations. These factors may result in approval time length, regulatory hurdles, and

substantial public investment, which differs from Heathrow.

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References

Gill, O. (2023). Heathrow's boss steps down after clashing with airlines over summer chaos.

The Telegraph. Retrieved from:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2023/02/02/heathrow-boss-step-clashing-

airlines-summer-chaos/