Heathrow has revealed new investment in its existing terminals ahead of the push for a third runway. Heathrow bosses are expected to confirm a multibillion-pound boost into the UK’s busiest airport – just hours after airlines criticised Heathrow for ‘failing’ passengers and operators due to declining quality.

London's Heathrow Airport, one of the world's busiest hubs, will submit its proposal for a third runway to the British government by summer, its chief executive Thomas Woldbye will say in a speech on Wednesday.

A map, created for a 2019 public consultation, shows how the airport could be laid out post-expansion. The third runway, labelled as ‘1’, would sit north-west of Heathrow’s current infrastructure, towards Colnbrook and Harmondsworth.

Plans to expand London's other airports are already further along than Heathrow's and have in the past been viewed as an alternative to a third Heathrow runway. Work is set to start this year to expand capacity at Stansted's terminal. The government is due to make a decision on Gatwick airport by 27 February.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves used a speech on growth last month to give her support for a third runway at Heathrow.