Heathrow Expansion Could Open The Door To Five Additional UK Routes, According To New Research
The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from the Heathrow Media Centre.
These three bullet-points act as sub-headings.
- New research identifies Belfast International, Cornwall Airport Newquay, Leeds Bradford Airport, Liverpool John Lennon and Teesside International Airport as most likely to gain Heathrow connections through expansion
- New links could unlock £335m in additional gross tourism spend, boosting trade, investment and jobs. This builds on the estimated £1.2bn in gross tourism spending across the UK from travellers supported by current Heathrow domestic routes
- Regional airports and businesses support this Government’s backing of Heathrow expansion and urge the project to be progressed as fast as possible
This is the first paragraph.
New research by Frontier Economics has identified the UK airports most likely to benefit from new or restored connections to Heathrow, when additional airport capacity is delivered by a third runway.
Surprise surprise! Research paid for by an airport shows more flights to the airport are a good idea after a new runway has been added.
I will look at each airport mentioned in the report in detail.
Belfast International
Belfast International Airport handles nearly seven million passengers a year, as opposed to the 2.5 million passengers that use the smaller Belfast City Airport.
Consider.
- Belfast International has flights to Gatwick, Luton and Stansted.
- I’ve only flown into Belfast twice and it was once to each airport.
- I did fly myself into Belfast City, when I was taking a friend to see Shorts, as he might have bought a Skyvan.
- If I wanted to go, I’d probably go from London City to Belfast City unless say, I was being picked up from Belfast International and perhaps going some distance from Belfast, in which case it would be Gatwick Airport.
- Note that I only travel with a small amount of hand baggage. As an an aside, what do travellers put in their mammoth suitcases?
- The press release talks of Belfast’s growing screen and cultural industries.
I wonder, if Belfast International needs flights from Heathrow, because there is increasing amounts of connecting travellers for Belfast and the aircraft to Belfast City aren’t large enough to carry all the cases.
Cornwall Airport Newquay
Newquay has flights to Gatwick and Stansted.
I’ve only been to Newquay once and I went by train, which I wrote about in Newquay Station – 9/10th February 2024.
- I changed once at Par.
- But soon, if not already, there will be direct trains from Paddington.
- Details on the summer-only Atlantic Coast Express are given on its Wikipedia entry.
- Will there be Pullman Dining, as I experienced on On The 10:45 From Paddington? That journey was the best train breakfast I’ve ever had!
Paddington and Heathrow isn’t a difficult journey to get the train for Newquay.
Leeds Bradford Airport
I used to fly light aircraft and I have friends in aviation. One phrase you regularly hear from pilots is “Time to spare, go by air!”
- Basically, unless you’re flying in a business jet, leave plenty of time.
- Leeds Bradford is a good airport and they did a good job, when I presented them with a problem, that I wrote about in Incident At Leeds.
- If I came into Heathrow, I would probably use Heathrow Express to Paddington and then get the Metropolitan Line to King’s Cross to get to Yorkshire.
- Leeds is also getting a Metro.
- LNER and other train companies are developing their services to the Leeds-Bradford area and there are now services to Bradford, Doncaster, Harrogate, Hull, Leeds, Shipley, Skipton and York.
- Leeds station has two trains per hour to and from London.
- Leeds station has lots of taxis.
Google AI gives this AI Overview of parking at Leeds-Bradford airport.
Parking at Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) is highly streamlined, offering a range of on-site and off-site options. It features a popular Free 1-Hour Zone for drop-offs, premium options right outside the terminal, and competitive long-stay parking. Pre-booking online is heavily recommended to secure spaces and get the best
I doubt that flying between Heathrow and Leeds Airport will be popular, unless you’re parking at the airport
Liverpool John Lennon Airport
A lot of the things said about Leeds Bradford Airport can be said about Liverpool airport.
But Liverpool already has a comprehensive Metro.
Google AI gives this AI Overview of parking at Liverpool airport.
Parking at Liverpool John Lennon Airport is extremely convenient because all official car parks are located directly on-site within a 1 to 5-minute walk of the terminal building—meaning no shuttle buses are required.
As with Leeds-Bradford Airport, I doubt that flying to Heathrow will be popular, unless you’re parking at the airport
Teesside International Airport
Reading the Wikipedia entry for Teesside International Airport doesn’t give the impression, the airport is not in the best of health.
But this is said about parking on the Teesside International Airport web site.
Teesside Airport parking is situated directly opposite the terminal building.
Wherever you’re coming from for your flight, be it Middlesbrough, Hartlepool or down the road in Darlington, our parking is closer and safer than parking anywhere else to access the airport. It is monitored 24/7 and has been awarded safe parking status by Park Mark.
Dropping off or picking up? There’s free parking for up to two hours when you spend minimum of £5 in our Landside Café or landside terminal shops. Receipt must be shown for validation.
I suspect if you’re going to one of its eight destinations and you want to take your car, then you might use Teesside International Airport.
Although several local stations seem to have good train services to King’s Cross, it does appear that Teesside International Airport could be using parking to attract business with customer-friendly parking.
I have some thoughts.
Do Many Passengers Take A Coach To Heathrow?
Google AI gave this answer, when I asked the question in the title of this section.
Yes, absolutely. Over 5 million passengers take coaches to Heathrow every year.
The airport’s Central Bus Station is one of the busiest coach hubs in the UK, and coaches provide an incredibly popular, cost-effective alternative to trains and taxis.
The main reasons so many travelers choose to take the coach include:
Direct Terminal Access: Coaches drop you off directly at the Heathrow Central Bus Station (for Terminals 2 and 3) or right outside Terminals 4 and 5.
This saves you from dragging heavy luggage through the London Underground or navigating complex rail changes.
Cost-Effective: Advance tickets often start as low as \(£10.50\), making it substantially cheaper than black cabs, airport parking, or premium rail lines like the Heathrow Express.National Connectivity: Coaches connect Heathrow to over 500 locations across the country.
Major hubs like Bristol, Oxford, Cambridge, and Southampton have direct, frequent services without requiring a change in Central London.
Early Morning Travel: Because the airport is a 24-hour operation, many coaches run throughout the night, offering crucial connections before local trains even begin operating.
An alternative at some of these smaller airports could be better coach travel.
Is Anybody Proposing A Small Airliner Powered By Hydrogen Fuel Cells?
I believe a smaller airliner powered by hydrogen fuel cells could suit feeder flights from smaller airports.
Google AI gave this answer, when I asked the question in the title of this section.
Yes, several aerospace companies are actively developing and testing hydrogen fuel cell airliners, ranging from retrofitted commuter planes to clean-sheet regional aircraft.
The leading proposals and active development programs include:
Airbus ZEROe: Airbus is designing a 100-seat regional airliner powered by four 2.4-megawatt hydrogen fuel cell engines.
After verifying the concept’s feasibility, Airbus is currently assembling a 1.2MW powertrain demonstrator for testing, with the aircraft targeted for entry into service in the late 2030s.
ZeroAvia: ZeroAvia is focused on retrofitting existing regional airframes (such as the Dornier 228) with hydrogen-electric engines.
They are currently testing their ZA600 powertrain for 19-seat aircraft and are actively developing larger systems (up to 80 seats) to enter commercial service in the coming years.
.H2Fly: This company focuses on small regional aircraft and has test flights slated for their 4-seat air taxis and larger regional prototypes.
They advocate for starting with smaller planes to avoid the complex infrastructure challenges of larger models.
Beyond Aero: They are developing “ONE,” a hydrogen-electric business aircraft designed specifically for executive travel, aiming to reduce both costs and carbon emissions compared to traditional jet fuel.
Hopefully, hydrogen fuel cell powered aircraft will be quiet.
Labour To Adopt Some Of World’s Most Ambitious Climate Targets
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on The Times.
This is the sub-heading.
No 10 moves to lock in sweeping emissions cuts, seeking to outflank the Greens on net zero while setting up a clash with Reform UK and the Tories
What I find strange is that there is no mention of hydrogen in the Times article.
I believe there are certain applications, where hydrogen is essential.
I asked Google AI,”Is Hydrogen An Essential Route To Decarbonise Some Industries?” and received this reply.
Yes, hydrogen is widely considered an essential route to decarbonise “hard-to-abate” sectors where direct electrification is inefficient or impossible.
It acts both as a clean-burning fuel for high-temperature heat and as a vital chemical feedstock.
Why Hydrogen Is Essential
High-Temperature Heat: Certain industries (e.g., steel, cement, glass) require intense heat that standard electric furnaces cannot practically achieve.
Hydrogen can replace natural gas in these combustion processes.
Chemical Feedstock: Hydrogen is required for chemical transformations rather than just energy.
For instance, it is indispensable in the manufacture of ammonia (fertilizers) and methanol.Material Reduction: In steelmaking, hydrogen can strip oxygen from iron ore, producing water vapor as a byproduct instead of carbon dioxide.
Key “Hard-to-Abate” Industries
Iron & Steel: Using hydrogen as a reducing agent replaces coal and coke, potentially cutting up to 95% of the emissions from traditional blast furnaces.
Chemicals & Refining: Clean hydrogen can replace “grey” hydrogen (which is currently produced using fossil fuels) in oil refining and fertilizer creation.
Long-Haul Transport: For heavy-duty vehicles, maritime shipping, and aviation.
News From Four Big Projects On The 15th May 2026
Are things hotting up in the offshore wind business in the UK? Or is it just a coincidence?
But these four projects were all announced on the 15th May 2026.
Aberdeenshire Council Greenlights Onshore Plans For 1 GW Scottish Floating Wind Project
The Buchan Offshore Wind consortium, comprising BayWa r.e., Elicio, and BW Ideol, has received planning consent from Aberdeenshire Council for the onshore infrastructure that will connect the proposed 1 GW Buchan floating wind farm to the grid. Commissioning in 2033.
Ocean Winds Receives Full Onshore Planning Consent for 2 GW Caledonia Offshore Wind Farm
Ocean Winds, a 50-50 joint venture owned by EDP Renewables and ENGIE, has received full onshore planning consent for its 2 GW Caledonia offshore wind farm following approval by Aberdeenshire Council’s Infrastructure Services Committee on 14 May. Commissioning in 2032.
UK Grants Development Consent For 3 GW Dogger Bank South Offshore Wind Project.
The UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has granted development consent for two Dogger Bank South (DBS) offshore wind farms, Dogger Bank South West and Dogger Bank South East, which are planned to have a combined installed capacity of 3 GW. Commissioning in 2031 (DBS West) and 2032 (DBS East).
RWE and SSE Secure Consent For 1 GW North Falls Offshore Wind Farm
The North Falls Offshore Wind Farm joint venture between RWE and SSE Renewables has been granted development consent for its 1 GW project by the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DSNEZ). Commissioning in 2030.
It looks like another 7 GW of onshore wind is on its way! The commissioning dates are my best estimates based on past history.
Digger Engines Drive JCB’s Attempt On Hydrogen-Powered Land Speed Record
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article in The Times.
This is the sub-heading.
The Hydromax is expected to exceed 350mph on Bonneville Salt Flats in August in a vehicle driven by the fastest man on earth — Wing Commander Andy Green
These three paragraphs introduce the story.
The British construction firm JCB will attempt to break the world hydrogen-powered land speed record this summer, using engines from the company’s latest diggers.
The record attempt will take place at the famous Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, where Sir Malcolm Campbell broke the 300mph barrier in 1935 with Blue Bird.
The vehicle, driven by the fastest man on earth — Wing Commander Andy Green OBE — is a bespoke streamliner dubbed the JCB Hydromax.
My first job on leaving Liverpool University with a degree in Control Engineering, was in ICI’s hydrogen plant at Runcorn.
In those days, ICI had little use for the gas and except for use as a feedstock for some niche and unusual products, and research all over the country, most of the gas produced was mixed with coal gas and sent down the power station to raise steam.
But talk around the Research Department on Runcorn Heath and some older employees had memories from World War II of hydrogen being used in transport experiments.
I asked Google AI,”Was Research In World War II In The UK Done Into Hydrogen Powered Vehicles?” and received this answer.
Yes, research and development into hydrogen-powered systems were conducted in the UK during World War II, primarily focused on fuel cells for submarines rather than hydrogen-powered road vehicles, which were more commonly powered by “coal gas” or “producer gas”.
So I suspect Runcorn provided the hydrogen for the research.
In Sutton Station To Gatwick Airport By Hydrogen-Powered Bus, I describe how I made the trip to the airport in a hydrogen-powered bus. And all for free because I have a Freedom Pass and in a mouse-quiet vehicle!
These buses from Wrightbus in Northern Ireland are superb influences for the use of hydrogen as a zero-carbon fuel.
Hopefully, the JCB Hydromax will persuade more people to think positively of hydrogen.
I wish Lord Bamford and his team, the best of luck.
UK Offshore Wind In 2030 – Calculated May 2026
The next general election is likely to be held in 2029, so how much wind energy will be added during the next Parliament?
The Current Position
The Wikipedia entry for the list of operational wind farms in the UK, says this.
In July 2025, there were offshore wind farms consisting of 2,809 turbines with a combined capacity of 16,035 megawatts.
Due To Be Commissioned In 2026
It would appear these wind farms will come on-line in 2026.
- Doggerbank A – 1235 MW – Fixed
- Sofia – 1400 MW – Fixed
This would add 2635 MW to give a total of 18,670 MW.
Due To Be Commissioned In 2027
It would appear these wind farms will come on-line in 2027.
- Doggerbank B – 1235 MW – Fixed
- Doggerbank C – 1218 MW – Fixed
- East Anglia 1 North – 800 MW – Fixed
- East Anglia 2 – 900 MW – Fixed
- East Anglia 3 – 1372 MW – Fixed
- Hornsea 3 – 2852 MW – Fixed
- Llŷr 1 – 100 MW – Floating
- Llŷr 2 – 100 MW – Floating
- Norfolk Boreas – 1380 MW – Fixed
- Pentland – 100 MW – Floating
- Whitecross – 100 MW – Floating
This would add 10157 MW to give a total of 28,827 MW.
Due To Be Commissioned In 2028
It would appear these wind farms will come on-line in 2028.
- Morecambe – 480 MW – Fixed
This would add 480 MW to give a total of 29,307 MW.
Due To Be Commissioned In 2029
It would appear these wind farms will come on-line in 2029.
- West Of Orkney – 2000 MW – Fixed
This would add 2000 MW to give a total of 31,307 MW.
Due To Be Commissioned In 2030
It would appear these wind farms will come on-line in 2030.
- Ramplion 2 Extension – 1200 MW – Fixed
- Norfolk Vanguard East – 1380 MW – Fixed
- Norfolk Vanguard West – 1380 MW – Fixed
- Awel y Môr – 1100 MW – Fixed
- Berwick Bank – 4100 MW – Fixed
- Outer Dowsing – 1500 MW – Fixed
- Caledonia – 2000 MW – Fixed
- N3 Project – 495 MW – Fixed/Floating
- North Falls – 504 MW – Fixed
This would add 14,659 MW to give a total of 45.966 MW.
Due To Be Commissioned In 2031
It would appear these wind farms will come on-line in 2031.
- Awel y Môr – 775 MW – Fixed
- Berwick Bank – 1380 MW – Fixed
- Dogger Bank SW – 1500 MW – Fixed
- Spiorad na Mara – 840 MW – Mixed
This would add 4,495 MW to give a total of 50,461 MW.
Due To Be Commissioned In 2032
It would appear these wind farms will come on-line in 2032.
- Caledonia – 2000 MW – Fixed
- Dogger Bank SE – 1500 MW – Fixed
This would add 3,500 MW to give a total of 53,961 MW.
Due To Be Commissioned In 2033
It would appear these wind farms will come on-line in 2033.
- Ayre 1008 MW – Fixed
- Bowdun – 1008 MW – Fixed
- Buchan – 960 MW – Floating
This would add 2,976 MW to give a total of 56,937 MW.
Due To Be Commissioned In 2036
It would appear these wind farms will come on-line in 2033.
- Havbredey – 1,500 MW – Fixed
This would add 1,500 MW to give a total of 58,437 MW.
Capacity Summary
- 2025 – None – 16,035 MW
- 2026 – 2635 MW – 18,670 MW
- 2027 – 10157 MW – 28,827 MW
- 2028 – 480 MW – 29,307 MW
- 2029 – 3500 MW – 31,307 MW
- 2030 – 14155 MW – 45.462 MW
- 2031 – 4,495 MW – 50,461 MW
- 2032 – 3,500 MW – 53,961 MW
- 2033 – 2,976 MW – 56,937 MW
- 2036 – 1,500 MW – 58437 MW
We’re still be adding capacity into the 2030s.
Campaign Saves Airport Upgrade After Reform Council Threatened Funding Cut
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article from Construction News.
These three paragraphs introduce the story.
A campaign by a coalition of interests has protected £57m of council funding for an upgrade to Doncaster Sheffield Airport, which was at risk.
The GMB union said Reform councillors had threatened to cancel the loan for upgrades to the airport, but that a campaign by unions, workers and politicians had resolved the situation.
Doncaster Sheffield Airport has been closed since 2022, when its then owner Peel Group said the site was “not commercially viable”.
Does this mean that Reform UK want Doncaster Sheffield Airport?
The BBC and ITVX seem to be saying that the loan will go ahead.
Are Centrica Entering The Bunkering Market For Lowcarbon-Fuelled Ships?
I asked Google AI, the question in the title of this post and received this answer.
Yes, Centrica is actively entering the low-carbon shipping fuel market, specifically by strengthening its ability to supply bio-LNG (liquefied natural gas) for the shipping industry.
Key developments in 2026 indicate a strategic push into this sector:
Bio-LNG Expansion: Centrica Energy has strengthened its bio-LNG bunker fuel offering through ISCC certification.
Strategic Partnerships: Centrica is supporting Gasrec in the UK to supply bio-LNG and bio-CNG to fleets, and is investing in large-scale carbon storage at Morecambe Bay, which can serve shipping.
Decarbonisation Focus: This move aligns with Centrica’s target to become a net-zero business by 2040 and to support customer emission reductions.
This could be a nice little business.
Could A Gluten-Free Version Of The M & S Microwavable Full English Breakfast Be Created?
This link shows the product on the Ocado web site.
These are some details about the product.
- It costs £4
- It lasts two days including the delivery day.
- In How Much Vitamin B12 Is There In A Leon Full English Breakfast Egg Pot?, I got Google AI to analyse one of Leon’s very similar egg pots and these contain a good dose of B12.
These are the ingredients.
Baked Beans (50%) (Haricot Beans · Tomato Paste · Water · Sugar · Cornflour · Salt · Vinegar · Dried Onions · Natural Colour: Paprika Extract · Ground Paprika · Natural Flavouring · Garlic Extract · Onion Oil · Vegetable Oil (Sunflower/Rapeseed)) · British Pork Chipolata Sausages (20%) (Pork (73%) · Water · Wheatflour* · Pea Protein Isolate · Dextrose · Wheat Starch · Salt · Ground Spices (White Pepper · Black Pepper · Coriander · Mace · Nutmeg) · Dried Onions · Salt · Yeast Extract · Dried Sage · Raising Agent: E503) · Poached Egg (18%) · Chestnut Mushrooms (7%) · Smoked British Bacon (2.5%) (Pork Belly (made with 185g of Raw Pork per 100g of Cooked Bacon) · Curing Salt (Salt · Preservative: Sodium Nitrate, Sodium Nitrite) · Sugar · Natural Flavouring · Antioxidant: E301) · Rapeseed Oil · Salt · Coarse Black Pepper.
Sausages filled into natural pork collagen casings.
*Fortified with Calcium, Iron, Vitamins B3, B1 and Folic Acid.For allergens, including cereals containing Gluten, see ingredients in bold.
Note the added gluten, which can be swapped for a gluten-free flour.
How I Would Use These Meals
I was told by Addenbrooke ‘s Hospital, when I was first diagmosed as a coeliac to always start the day with a good meal, as if you are travelling the next meal might not be easy to find.
Given the rate at which coeliac-friendly restaurants are closing, no dietician ever made a better prediction.
So if say I was going to Liverpool for the day, I could put one of these in my fridge and have a good breakfast before I leave home. This also means I can leave home earlier and catch an earlier train.













































