What Andy Burnham as PM could mean for your holidays - higher tourist taxes, pricier flights and doubts over Heathrow's third runway

Following the resignation of Sir Keir Starmer earlier this week, Andy Burnham has been sworn in as the UK's new Prime Minister.Mr Burnham, the newly elected MP for Makerfield, has hit headlines for a range of controversial policies – notably his 'mansion tax'.But what could the new leader's premiership mean for the world of travel?From his approach to tourist taxes and the impact on airfares, the Daily Mail takes a look at the potential consequences of the new leader's time in No. 10 (North)... Tourist taxes to stay – and grow Andy Burnham has become the UK's new Prime Minister – what could it mean for holidaymakers? As mayor of Manchester, Andy Burnham was one of the first to implement a tourist tax – could this become more widespread during his tenure as PM?In England, mayors have introduced a flat fee of up to £2 per night, per person, to be added to accommodation bills in certain regions.In Manchester, Mr Burnham was one of the most vociferous proponents of the levy, which was first introduced in April 2023. He imposed a £1-per-night 'city visitor charge', raising around £2.8million in its first year alone.According to a briefing from the House of Commons Library: 'The government published a consultation in November 2025 about giving mayors the power to introduce this overnight visitor levy, also known as a 'tourist tax'. 'A bill to enable mayors to raise an overnight visitor levy featured in the 2026 King's Speech. This power is not likely to be available to mayors until 2028 at the earliest.'Higher airfares?The eco-conscious MP has expressed his desire to support sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).As mayor of Greater Manchester, he previously stated: 'Manchester Airport is a key part of our growth ambitions for Greater Manchester. It provides thousands of high-skilled jobs for our residents and is a key growth location which can truly close the North-South divide.'It is important that this growth is sustainable and it is very positive to see so many steps being taken in this direction, contributing to Greater Manchester’s carbon neutral ambitions.'It comes after practical plans to decarbonise the aviation industry and its links to economic growth were discussed during a meeting between Sustainable Aviation members and Andy Burnham last November.Demonstrating the collaboration between the aviation sector and local government, Andy Burnham spoke at this meeting of his support for a sustainable future for the industry, which could reduce its emissions while continuing to deliver the vast economic benefits for the region. Given his support for SAF, the increased cost of this type of fuel could result in higher aviation fares, the Telegraph reported.What about Heathrow and the third runway? Could Andy Burnham have an impact on plans to expand Heathrow Airport? Heathrow already plays a critical role in connecting the UK. Almost five million passengers travelled on Heathrow's 13 domestic routes in 2025, supporting an estimated £1.2billion in gross tourism spending across the UK. These connections are essential for many communities, helping to support jobs, attract visitors and link local economies to international opportunities in less connected parts of the UK.For the last 20 years, Heathrow has been operating at capacity, with airlines often prioritising the use of limited slots for long-haul destinations. As a result, domestic connections have been lost, with passengers relying on indirect routes via overseas hubs, offshoring the benefits of connectivity away from the UK.The UK government has fast-tracked Heathrow's £33billion third-runway expansion plan, with the new runway expected to be operational by 2035. However, the plans could face further uncertainty – although there would be major barriers to Mr Burnham fully halting it.Mr Burnham previously warned that a new runway at Heathrow could 'suck more activity and investment into the capital and leave the North waiting even longer for its promised Northern Powerhouse', according to the Standard. Former Transport Secretary Dame Theresa Villiers told the publication: 'Clearly Andy Burnham is not an enthusiast for a third runway.'So this beleaguered project must be in further jeopardy now. This is a massively expensive project. If it lacks Government backing, it’s likely it will never happen.'... but it's not all doom and gloom There may be some consequences regarding pubs and football fansThere may also be some positive consequences to Mr Burnham becoming PM – notably his tax plan to help save pubs and high streets.Plus, Andy Burnham has backed calls for football fans to be allowed to booze in the stands at football matches. The new PM criticised the ban, which has been in place for England's top five leagues for more than 40 years in a bid to curb hooliganism. His Bee Network in Greater Manchester has also been widely viewed as a success and, if similar schemes were rolled out elsewhere, public transport could benefit.