Mayor of London reveals Heathrow Airport never consulted TfL before pulling plug on taxi charging points at rank
- Perry Richardson
- Jun 27
- 2 min read
London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan has confirmed that neither he nor Transport for London (TfL) were consulted by Heathrow Airport Holdings Limited (HAL) before the airport operator decided to permanently decommission the electric vehicle charging points at the Taxi Feeder Park.
The response was given following a written question from London Assembly Green Party member Caroline Russell, who sought clarification on when the Mayor and TfL were informed of the decision, what discussions had taken place with Heathrow, and what support would be provided to London’s growing fleet of electric black cabs.
Russell’s question referenced concerns raised by representatives of London’s licensed taxi trade that drivers and unions had received formal notice that the existing Taxi Feeder Park chargers would be permanently removed. According to the notice, a replacement Rapid Charging Hub is not expected until late 2027 or early 2028 and remains subject to internal capital approval.
In his written response, the Mayor made clear that Heathrow had not engaged with City Hall or TfL before making the decision.
He said: “Heathrow Airport and the facilities it provides, including within the Taxi Feeder Park, are owned and operated by Heathrow Airport Holdings Limited (HAL). HAL has not engaged with me or Transport for London (TfL) about this and this decision is at their discretion.”
The Mayor also indicated that discussions should instead take place between the airport operator and industry representatives.
He added: “The taxi trade and driver representative groups have regular meetings with HAL and this would be the ideal forum to discuss this.”
The Mayor pointed to London’s wider public charging network highlighting Zapmap figures showing that, as of 31 May 2026, there were 28,550 public charging devices across London, including 1,744 rapid and ultra-rapid chargers rated at 50kW or above that are suitable for taxis and private hire vehicles needing to top up during the working day.
The response also referenced TfL’s recently opened charging hub at Hatton Cross station, delivered through Places for London in partnership with Fastned. The facility, located close to Heathrow Airport, offers 12 ultra-rapid 400kW charging bays and was officially announced on 12 June. The Mayor described it as an ideal location for high-mileage road users, including taxi drivers.
However, the response stops short of addressing concerns over the removal of dedicated charging infrastructure within Heathrow’s Taxi Feeder Park itself.
