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The CAA undertakes economic regulation of airports and NATS (En Route) plc (NERL). This page focuses on airport regulation. Information on regulation and licensing of NERL can be found here.

We provide information to prospective and current investors at Heathrow and Gatwick airport on the Investors page.

Economic regulation of airports

We assess whether airport operators have substantial market power and, where appropriate, licence those that do. Airport economic licences include conditions on price controls, specifying the quality of the services the airport operator must deliver and how much it can charge from them.

We issue certificates to airport operators that meet the statutory requirements to be classed as Statutory Undertakers.

We declare the hours of peak congestion at Heathrow and Gatwick under the Traffic Distribution Rules.

Market power assessments

In January 2014, we determined that the operators of Heathrow and Gatwick met the market power test set out in the Civil Aviation Act 2012 and therefore required a licence to recover charges for its services. We found that the operator of Stansted did not meet the test for services to either passenger and cargo airlines and therefore did not require a licence.

Further information on market power assessments

Airport licences

In February 2014, we granted licences to the operators of Heathrow and Gatwick which came into force on 1 April 2014. These licences include conditions relating to prices, service quality and operational resilience, amongst others. More details are on the economic licensing of Heathrow and Gatwick pages.

We have powers under the Civil Aviation Act 2012 to impose penalties for breach of a licence condition or breach of an enforcement order issued in relation to a licence condition. We may also impose penalties for non-compliance with information notices we have issued and for destroying information or knowingly supplying false information. We are required to publish a statement of policy on penalties for non-compliance under Chapter 1 of the Civil Aviation Act 2012 setting out the criteria we will use to determine whether a penalty is appropriate and the amount of any penalty.

In May 2015, after consultation, we published Economic Licensing Enforcement Guidance covering our approach to enforcing the airport economic licences and licences to provide air traffic services under the Transport Act 2000. The guidance outlines the legal framework in which our work fits and informs stakeholders of the enforcement powers we have and how we will use them.

After consultation, we also published prioritisation principles that explain our approach in deciding which pieces of work to take forward in the areas of consumer protection, competition law and economic regulation.

Prioritisation Principles for the CAA's Consumer Protection, Competition Law and Economic Regulation work (May 2015)

Latest price control reviews

Since we started price regulating airports in 1986, we have completed six price control reviews.

The current control period (referred to as Q6) started on 1 April 2014 for both Heathrow and Gatwick, and will run until 31 December 2019 (price control extended by one year in 2016) for Heathrow and 31 March 2021 for Gatwick. You can view our work on the Q6 reviews, including the price controls and other licence conditions, on our economic licence pages for Heathrow and Gatwick.

We are currently reviewing the regulatory arrangements at Heathrow.

Previous price control reviews

Statutory undertakers

An airport operator whose annual turnover at the airport exceeded £1m in at least two of the last three financial years may apply for a certificate that confers rights on the operator as a statutory undertaker. Airport operators who already have a permission to levy airport charges issued under section 39 of the Airports Act 1986 retain their status as a statutory undertaker.

Traffic Distribution Rules 1991

Under the Traffic Distribution Rules 1991 whole plane cargo services or general or business aviation cannot be operated at Heathrow or Gatwick airports during periods of peak congestion declared for each scheduling season, without permission from the airport operator.

The periods of peak congestion 

The Civil Aviation Authority, in exercise of its powers under the above Rules and having consulted Heathrow Airport Ltd, Gatwick Airport Limited, and Airport Coordination Ltd defined and published the hours of peak congestion at Heathrow and Gatwick airports for the purposes of the above Rules are as specified below. All times are UTC.

Winter 2024/2025



All times are UTC

London Heathrow Airport 

Arrivals

Monday 0600-1955 2100-2255  
Tuesday 0600-1455 1600-1955 2200-2255
Wednesday 0600-1855 2100-2255  
Thursday 0600-1655 1800-1855 2100-2255
Friday 0600-2255    
Saturday 0600-1655 1800-1855  
Sunday 0600-1855 2000-2255  

Departures

Monday 0600-1655 1800-2055 2200-2255    
Tuesday 0600-0655     0800-1555 1800-1855 2000-2055 2200-2255
Wednesday 0600-0655     0800-1455 1600-1655 1800-2055 2200-2255
Thursday 0600-1855   2000-2055 2200-2255    
Friday 0600-2155        
Saturday 0600-0655   0800-1655 1800-1855    
Sunday 0800-2055        

London Gatwick Airport 

From 0000 on 1 December 2024 until 2359 on 30 March 2025

Arrivals & Departures

Monday 0600-0655   0800-1055 1200-1455    
Tuesday 0800-0855  1000-1055      
Wednesday 0800-0855        
Thursday 0800-0855   1000-1055 1300-1655    
Friday 0600-0855     1000-1055 1200-1855 2000-2055 2200-2255
Saturday 0700-0755     0900-0955 1100-1155 1400-1555 2000-2055
Sunday 0800-0855   1200-1655 1900-2055    

 

Close Winter 2024/2025

Summer 2024

All times are UTC

London Heathrow Airport 

Arrivals

Monday 0500-1655 1800-2155    
Tuesday 0500-2155      
Wednesday 0500-2155      
Thursday 0500-2155      
Friday 0500-2155      
Saturday 0500-1155 1300-1455 1900-1955 2100-2155
Sunday 0500-2155      

Departures

Monday 0500-2155      
Tuesday 0500-2055      
Wednesday 0500-2155      
Thursday 0500-2155      
Friday 0500-2155      
Saturday 0500-1455 2000-2155    
Sunday 0500-0555 0700-1755 1900-2155  

London Gatwick Airport 

Arrivals & Departures

Monday 0500-1055 1200-1255 1400-1455 1600-1655
Tuesday 0500-0855 1200-1255 1900-1955  
Wednesday 0500-0855 1200-1255 1400-1455  
Thursday 0500-0955 1100-1155 1300-1555 1800-1855
Friday 0500-0855 1000-1055 1200-1355 1500-1955
Saturday 0500-1255 1400-1455    
Sunday 0500-0655 0800-0855 1000-1055 1200-1855

 

Close Summer 2024

Winter 2023

All times are UTC

London Heathrow Airport

Arrivals

Monday 0600-1955 2100-2255    
Tuesday 0600-1855 2200-2255    
Wednesday 0600-2055 2200-2255    
Thursday 0600-1855 2000-2055 2200-2255  
Friday 0600-1955 2100-2255    
Saturday 0600-1555 1700-1755    
Sunday 0600-1655 1800-1855 2000-2255  

Departures

Monday 0600-2055 2200-2255    
Tuesday 0600-1655 1800-1855 2200-2255  
Wednesday 0600-1855 2200-2255    
Thursday 0600-1755 2000-2055 2200-2255  
Friday 0600-2155      
Saturday 0600-1455 1600-1655    
Sunday 0800-2055      

London Gatwick Airport

Arrivals & Departures

Monday 0700-1055 1200-1255      
Tuesday 0700-0855        
Wednesday 0700-0855        
Thursday 0700-0855        
Friday 0600-1055 1200-1555 1700-1755 2000-2055 2200-2255
Saturday 0600-0755 0900-0955 1300-1455 1600-1655  
Sunday 0600-1055 1200-1355 1500-1655    

 

 

Close Winter 2023

Summer 2023

All times are UTC

London Heathrow Airport 

Arrivals

Monday 0500-2155      
Tuesday 0500-1455 1600-2155    
Wednesday 0500-2155      
Thursday 0500-2155      
Friday 0500-2155      
Saturday 0500-1455 1900-1955 2100-2155  
Sunday 0500-0955 1100-2155    

Departures

Monday 0500-2155      
Tuesday 0500-1355      
Wednesday 0500-2155      
Thursday 0500-2155      
Friday 0500-2155      
Saturday 0500-0955 1100-1455 2100-2155  
Sunday 0500-0555 0800-2055    

London Gatwick Airport 

Arrivals & Departures

Monday 0600-1955    
Tuesday 0500-1955    
Wednesday 0500-1955 2100-2155  
Thursday 0500-1155 1300-1955  
Friday 0600-1955 2100-2255  
Saturday 0600-1555    
Sunday 0500-0555 0700-2055 2200-2255

 

Close Summer 2023

Winter 2022

All times are UTC.

London Heathrow Airport 

Arrivals

Monday 0600-1855 2100-2255  
Tuesday 0600-1355 1500-1955 2200-2255
Wednesday 0600-1955 2200-2255  
Thursday 0600-1555 1700-1955 2200-2255
Friday 0600-2255    
Saturday 0600-1455    
Sunday 0600-1655 1800-1955 2200-2255

Departures

Monday 0600-1555 1700-2055  
Tuesday 0600-0655 0800-1655 1800-1955
Wednesday 0600-0655 0800-1655 1800-1955
Thursday 0600-1655 1800-2055 2200-2255
Friday 0600-2155    
Saturday 0600-0655 0900-1455 1600-1755
Sunday 0800-2155    

London Gatwick Airport 

All times are UTC.

01 December 2022 – 25 March 2023

Arrivals & Departures

Monday 0600-1455 1900-1955  
Tuesday 0700-1055    
Wednesday 0700-0955 2100-2155  
Thursday 0700-1055 1400-1455 1700-1755
Friday 0600-1855    
Saturday 0600-1455 1600-1655  
Sunday 0600-0955 1100-1855  

 

Close Winter 2022

Summer 2022

All times are UTC.

London Heathrow Airport 

Arrivals

Monday 0500-1655 1800-2155    
Tuesday 0500-2155      
Wednesday 0500-2155      
Thursday 0500-2155      
Friday 0500-2155      
Saturday 0500-1155 1300-1455 1900-1955 2100-2155
Sunday 0500-2155      

Departures

Monday 0500-2155      
Tuesday 0500-2055      
Wednesday 0500-2155      
Thursday 0500-2155      
Friday 0500-2155      
Saturday 0500-1455 2000-2155    
Sunday 0500-0555 0700-1755 1900-2155  

London Gatwick Airport

Arrivals & Departures

Monday 0500-1955 2100-2155    
Tuesday 0500-0855 1000-1955 2100-2155  
Wednesday 0500-1855      
Thursday 0500-1955 2100-2155    
Friday 0500-1955 2100-2155    
Saturday 0500-1655      
Sunday 0600-2255      
Close Summer 2022

Winter 2020/21 

Traffic Distribution Rules 1991 for airports serving the London area

Heathrow Airport

The Civil Aviation Authority, in exercise of its powers under the above Rules and having consulted Heathrow Airport Ltd and Airport Coordination Ltd announces that with effect from 0000 on 25 October 2020 until 2359 on 27 March 2021, the hours of peak congestion at Heathrow Airport for the purposes of the above Rules are as specified below:

All times are UTC.

Arrivals

Monday 0600-1655 1800-2255  
Tuesday 0600-1455 1600-1655 1800-2255
Wednesday 0600-1355 1500-1655 1800-2255
Thursday 0600-1655 1800-2255  
Friday 0600-2255    
Saturday 0600-1455 1600-1655  
Sunday 0600-1655 1800-2055 2200-2255


Departures

Monday 0800-1955 2100-2155  
Tuesday 0700-1155 1300-1955 2200-2255
Wednesday 0800-1955 2100-2155  
Thursday 0700-1755 1900-2055 2200-2255
Friday 0700-2255    
Saturday 0800-1155 1300-1455 1600-1755
Sunday 0800-2155    

Gatwick Airport 

There are no hours of peak congestion at Gatwick Airport from 0001 on 25 October 2020 until 2359 on 27 March 2021.

Close Winter 2020/21 

Summer 2021

All times are UTC.

London Heathrow Airport

Arrivals

Monday 0500-2155          
Tuesday 0500-2155          
Wednesday 0500-2155          
Thursday 0500-2155          
Friday 0500-2155          
Saturday

0500-1055

 

1200-1355

 

1500-1555

 

1700-1755

1900-1955

2100-2155

Sunday 0700-0855 1100-2155        

Departures

Monday 0500-2155      
Tuesday 0500-2155      
Wednesday 0500-2155      
Thursday 0500-2155      
Friday 0500-2155      
Saturday 0500-1455 2000-2155    
Sunday 0700-2155      

London Gatwick Airport 

No peak periods declared for Summer 2021.

Close Summer 2021

Winter 2021

All times are UTC.

London Heathrow Airport

Arrivals

Monday 0600-1255 1400-2255  
Tuesday 0600-1255 1500-1855 2000-2255
Wednesday 0600-1255 1500-2255  
Thursday 0600-1255 1400-2255  
Friday 0600-2255    
Saturday 0600-1255 1400-1455 1600-1655
Sunday 0600-2255    


Departures

Monday 0600-2155      
Tuesday 0600-0755 0900-1155 1300-2055  
Wednesday 0600-1155 1300-2055    
Thursday 0600-2255      
Friday 0600-2155      
Saturday 0600-0655 0900-1455 1600-1755  
Sunday 0900-2155      

London Gatwick Airport 

No peak periods declared for Winter 2021.

 

Close Winter 2021

Summer 2019

All times are UTC.

London Heathrow Airport 

Arrivals

Monday 0500-2155  
Tuesday 0500-2155  
Wednesday 0500-2155  
Thursday 0500-2155  
Friday 0500-2155  
Saturday 0500-1355  
Sunday 0700-1255 1400-2155

Departures

Monday 0500-2155  
Tuesday 0500-2155  
Wednesday 0500-2055  
Thursday 0500-2155  
Friday 0500-2155  
Saturday 0500-1555 2000-2155
Sunday 0700-0955 1100-2055

London Gatwick Airport 

27th May 2019-29th September 2019

Arrivals & Departures

Monday 0500-2055    
Tuesday 0500-1855    
Wednesday 0500-1055 1200-1555 1700-2155
Thursday 0500-1955 2100-2155  
Friday 0500-2155    
Saturday 0500-2255    
Sunday 0700-0755 0900-1955  

 

Close Summer 2019

Winter 2019

All times are UTC.

London Heathrow Airport                   

Arrivals

Monday 0600-2155    
Tuesday 0600-2155    
Wednesday 0600-1755 1900-2255  
Thursday 0600-1655 1800-2255  
Friday 0500-2255    
Saturday 0600-1455 1600-1655  
Sunday 0600-1555 1700-2055 2200-0055

Departures

Monday 0800-0955      
Tuesday 0700-1155 1300-2055 2200-2255  
Wednesday 0700-0755 0900-2155    
Thursday 0700-0055      
Friday 0600-2155      
Saturday 0800-0855 1000-1155 1300-1455 1600-1655
Sunday 0800-2155      

London Gatwick Airport 

Arrivals & Departures

Monday 0700-1355 1500-1655 1900-2255
Tuesday 0700-0955    
Wednesday 0700-0955 1900-2055  
Thursday 0600-1055 1500-2055  
Friday 0700-0855 1000-1655 1800-2255
Saturday 0600-1755    
Sunday 0600-0855 1000-2155  

 

Close Winter 2019

UKRN guidance for regulators on cost of capital methodology - consultation

The UK Regulator Network (UKRN) has published draft guidance for consultation on the methodology for setting the cost of capital. A number of UK regulators, including the CAA, have worked together to identify areas where there is already significant alignment and to make recommendations where further alignment could be achieved, recognising the benefits brought about by aligning regulatory approaches to investors and customers.

The report notes that it is not expected that the recommendations in the draft guidance be adopted for price control decisions that have been made or are in the process of being made, including for the CAA. We will review our approach to the cost of capital and how to best have regard to the positions set out in this document after the end of the H7 and NR23 reviews.

The UKRN report is available at this link for consultation: https://ukrn.org.uk/publications/ukrn-guidance-for-regulators-on-the-methodology-for-setting-the-cost-of-capital-consultation/