Heathrow Airport is planning an extra 25,000 flights per year from 2021 on its existing runways to give the UK a ‘Brexit Boost’ as nine month revenues rise.

Revenue rose by 1.2 per cent to just under £2.1 billion ($2.6 billion) with adjusted profit before tax rising 11 per cent to £202 million. Heathrow made a loss of £210 million after tax in the first nine months of 2016 compared to a profit of £419 million in the same period of 2015.

Cargo volumes have grown 2.1 per cent in the first nine months, with particularly notable increases on Hong Kong, China and Vietnam routes.

Heathrow Airport chief executive officer, John Holland-Kaye says:

“Heathrow is the right choice to help make Britain stronger and fairer for everyone – that’s why there is such broad support across the UK from Newquay to Inverness for our plans – and we stand ready to deliver the runway that will keep Britain a confident, outward looking trading nation as soon as we get the greenlight from Government.”

The airport says a third runway would create up to 180,000 new jobs and £211 billion of economic growth with potential for up to 40 new long-haul routes.