Passengers to foot bill for Heathrow third runway bidding processHeathrow will be able to recoup more than £300m thanks to the watchdog rulingHeathrow will be allowed to pass the vast bill it has racked up preparing its third runway bid onto passengers, the aviation watchdog has said, in a ruling that promises to extend the airport’s position as the most expensive in the world. The Civil Aviation Authority judged that Heathrow Airport Limited (HAL) will be allowed to recoup the £320m it has already spent vying to win the megaproject contract by raising the fees tagged on to travellers’ air fares. Rival bidder Heathrow West was also granted permission to reclaim the £4.2m it has spent on its proposal so far. “The costs Heathrow can recover are capped, independently scrutinised and subject to efficiency reviews, helping ensure that passengers only pay for efficient costs that are justified.” It will also be responsible for collecting Heathrow West’s less substantial costs, should the rival bid being spearheaded by hotel magnate Surinder Arora be unsuccessful.