Heathrow expansion is back at the centre of the national conversation. For those of us whose job is to represent passengers, that raises a deceptively simple question: what would expansion actually mean for the people who use the airport?

The Heathrow Passenger Forum has now submitted its response to the Government’s consultation on the draft Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement.

We support the principle of expansion. But our support is neither unconditional nor simply about adding another runway.

We visited the Heathrow Airport Operations Centre within the Compass Centre. Heathrow’s state-of-the-art, 24/7 ‘nerve centre’ where they monitor almost every variable you can think of – within the airport, around the airport, and then throughout the south-east, and way beyond the UK’s shores.

Every quarter the Heathrow Passenger Forum meets to discuss topical issues which have an impact on the passengers who fly from, into and through the airport, and to raise topics with senior managers and decision makers at the airport which can make a difference to that experience. It is important work, last month Heathrow made history becoming the first major European hub to welcome over 8 million passengers in a single month.

Over the next month the Heathrow Passenger Forum chair Mark Izatt is looking to bring in some new, independent members.

The role is voluntary but it is insight rich. You get an opportunity to make a difference and it is an interesting role.