The Department for Transport does not hold information on Sustainable Aviation Fuel capability or availability at individual military bases or airports, including RAF Northolt, or on whether SAF is available to particular categories of operator at specific airfields. It therefore does not hold a comparison between RAF Northolt, Farnborough, London Luton, London Stansted and Biggin Hill.

There is no requirement for RAF Northolt to monitor aviation related air quality levels. In relation to air quality, the role of both military and civil aerodromes is secondary to local authorities who are statutorily empowered to engage on air quality issues. In addition, RAF Northolt sits wholly under the London Terminal Manoeuvring Area and London Control Zone airspace, which is shared with other airports and aerodromes.

Regulatory Article (RA) 1801 sets out that UK military aircraft are certified in line with the International Civil Aviation Organisation Section 16 emissions and CO2 international regulatory standards.

The RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine does publish reports on the Military Aviation Noise Contours and analysis for RAF Northolt. The last survey was conducted in 2022 and is published at the following link https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/raf-northolt-military-aviation-noise-contour-report-2022

The annual cap on civil commercial movements has not been increased since April 2013 and is set at a maximum of 12, 000 civil commercial movements in a Financial Year (FY)

The number of civil commercial movements at RAF Northolt for each financial year is given below.

FY Civil Commercial Movements

2012/13 7,055

2013/14 9,219

2014/15 9,171

2015/16 9,642

2016/17 10,612

2017/18 8,439

2018/19 4,698

2019/20 1,004

2020/21 1,397

2021/22 3,532

2022/23 6,876

2023/24 7,202

2024/25 8,062

2025/26 7,120

There is no requirement for RAF Northolt to monitor aviation related air quality levels. In relation to air quality, the role of both military and civil aerodromes is secondary to local authorities who are statutorily empowered to engage on air quality issues. In addition, RAF Northolt sits wholly under the London Terminal Manoeuvring Area and London Control Zone airspace, which is shared with other airports and aerodromes.

Regulatory Article (RA) 1801 sets out that UK military aircraft are certified in line with the International Civil Aviation Organisation Section 16 emissions and CO2 international regulatory standards.

The RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine does publish reports on the Military Aviation Noise Contours and analysis for RAF Northolt. The last survey was conducted in 2022 and is published at the following link https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/raf-northolt-military-aviation-noise-contour-report-2022

The number of non-military flights that landed at RAF Northolt in each of the last three calendar years was as follows:

2023 - 3,638 landings

2024 - 3,987 landings

2025 - 3,660 landings

The number of passengers handled through the passenger terminal has only been tracked for 2025. For 2023 and 2024 it is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

In 2025 the number of passengers (arriving and departing) was 13,044.

RAF Northolt is a core military establishment, delivering a breadth of important day-to-day outputs for Defence. There are no defence funding trends which might impact RAF Northolt’s ability to support military operations.

Data on aircraft movements at UK airports is collected and published by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). CAA aircraft movement data includes a ‘military’ category, but a split between arriving and departing flights is not provided.

Although Royal Air Force (RAF) Northolt does handle some civil flight movements, this is an RAF establishment, and data on aircraft movements at RAF Northolt is not collected by the CAA.

Data on the total number of aircraft movements at Heathrow, split by military and non-military, is provided in Table 03_1 of the annual CAA airport data publication and reproduced as Table 1 below. The last three complete years for which figures are available are 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Table 1: Aircraft movements at Heathrow Airport split by military and non-military

Note: Non-military category includes commercial, test and training, private, official and business aviation movements.

Source: https://www.caa.co.uk/data-and-analysis/uk-aviation-market/airports/uk-airport-data/

It has been the practice of successive Administrations not to publish granular information relating to the official movements of protected individuals, and/or official travel by any individual to military or secure locations.

The requested information is not centrally held, and complying with this request would incur a disproportionate cost to the department. Comprehensive details of Senior Officials’ Business Expenses, encompassing domestic flights are available on GOV.UK.

No transit accommodation at RAF Northolt has been condemned since 2012.

RAF Northolt aerodrome is a core military establishment, delivering a breadth of important day-to-day outputs for Defence in addition to providing valuable contingency options, as demonstrated during the Olympics. RAF Northolt is not just an aerodrome, but a vibrant Defence establishment, with over 1,300 personnel based across 34 diverse units, from all three Services and wider Government. Alongside 32 (The Royal) Squadron undertaking operational command support and VIP flying, there are many other major units at the station in a variety of roles: An Army bomb disposal squadron; the British Forces Post Office; the Service Prosecution Authority; an aeronautical publication and mapping centre; two RAF bands; and a very high readiness RAF Regiment unit, which also undertakes ceremonial duties as The Queen's Colour Squadron.

The current fleet of four BAe 146 aircraft are planned to be retired from Service on 31 March 2022.

Replacements for those aircraft are currently under consideration as part of normal capability planning.

The fleet of 14 Voyager will continue to support the collective Air Transport task including VIP and Command Support Air Transport tasking.

Fuel Services for visiting business aviation flights at RAF Northolt are provided by a contract with World Fuels Group. Therefore decisions on the future availability of sustainable aviation fuel would require contract modification agreement between World Fuels and the Ministry of Defence. There are currently no plans in this regard. All fuel provided must comply with regulatory standards.

The National Air Traffic Services (NATS) undertook initial fast time simulation work for the Airports Commission to assess the possible implications arising from the indicative airspace design for a third runway at Heathrow Airport. This work took account of the likely air traffic demands of airports across the South East, including RAF Northolt.

Heathrow Airport’s airspace design proposals for the third runway are following the Civil Aviation Authority’s airspace change process. This is a thorough process requiring extensive consultation with communities and other stakeholders, including the military and airports that may be affected by the proposal. To date Heathrow Airport has held a public consultation on its design principles as well as second consultation on its proposed design envelopes. The airport is expected to launch its statutory consultation on flightpath design options in 2022.

Ministry of Defence officials are engaged with Heathrow Airport about the potential implications to RAF Northolt of airspace changes which may result from the Department for Transport and Civil Aviation Authority Airspace Modernisation Strategy.

The runway was closed as planned on 15 April 2019 to fixed wing aircraft. Rotary wing operations have continued, while fixed wing aircraft are now operating from RAF Benson.

Construction works have commenced to remove the existing runway surface and arrestor beds. This will be followed by preparatory works for resurfacing the runway, installation of new arrestor beds and new approach lighting. Works will continue through summer to be completed in late October 2019.

The estimated capital cost of the project is £23 million inclusive of VAT. The works will assure military flying operations in support of UK Defence and the wider Government at RAF Northolt for the next 10 - 15 years.

The RAF did not hold an aircraft on standby at RAF Northolt for the Prime Minister over the period in question.

Runway and associated infrastructure construction works at RAF Northolt will formally commence on 15 April 2019, although preparatory works have already begun. The runway will be closed from 15 April 2019 until late October 2019, but rotary wing operations will continue throughout this period. During the closure 32(The Royal) Squadron fixed wing aircraft will operate from RAF Benson to ensure adequate support is available to existing and future tasking.

A contract was awarded in October 2018 to refurbish the existing runway and install new arrestor beds at RAF Northolt. Construction works will commence in spring this year and will be completed in autumn. The airfield will be closed during this period to fixed wing aircraft, though rotary operations will continue.

During the project's design process, full account is being taken of the Military Aviation Authority's regulations. Once the works are complete, full details will be published in Aeronautical publications and the Defence Aerodrome Manual.

RAF Northolt remains a core Station with over 1,800 personnel based across 33 diverse units, from all three of the Armed Forces and wider Government. Alongside 32 (The Royal) Squadron undertaking VIP and operational command support flying, there are many other major units at the station in ground roles including an operational and ceremonial RAF regiment unit, an Army bomb disposal squadron and the British Forces Post Office.

Air Traffic at RAF Northolt already operates in very close co-operation with Heathrow with procedures aligned to ensure that mutual operations can take place safely. The Ministry of Defence continues to work closely with Heathrow and National Air Traffic Services on the implications of the third runway to ensure that these mutually safe operations continue. Further work is focused on requirements to revise procedures and enhance co-ordination in future.