Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has announced that she is “minded to approve” the plans for expansion at Lonon Gatwick (LGW/EGKK) which includes making use of the standby runway for dual runway operations. But added she will not formally give the decision until October to allow the airport to address environmental concerns.
Ms Alexander announced her decision this morning which was welcomed by the industry and wider business groups as it will increase UK connectivity by adding up to 50,000 flights per year from the UK’s second busiest airport.
Clive Wratten, CEO of the Business Travel Association (BTA) said: “The Transport Secretary’s decision to approve the expansion of Gatwick Airport by bringing its emergency runway into routine use is yet another significant milestone in enhancing the UK’s connectivity. With the latest data showing that the total full-year air traffic in 2024 rose 10.4% compared to 2023 – almost 4% above pre-pandemic levels – there is a strong appetite for travel.
“This expansion will offer businesses increased access to high-value global markets such as North America, Asia and the Middle East, facilitating international collaborations. These infrastructure upgrades are not just essential for driving the UK’s economic growth, but critical for creating jobs, and delivering meaningful opportunities for businesses and people travelling for work.“
Gatwick Airport is currently Europe’s busiest single-runway airport with its standby runway only used when the main runway is not in use.
Under the proposed plans, which are still subject to planning permission approval, the northern runway (08R/26L) will be moved around 10 metres further north with an additional taxiway added between them to create separation between the runways and improve traffic flow around the field.
This will allow both runways to be in use at the same time allowing for simultaneous arrivals and departures.
The move has also been backed by BALPA, the union representing UK airline pilots, but warned it must be done alongside modernisation of the UK’s airspace. Amy Leversidge, General Secretary of BALPA, said: “We welcome initiatives to expand airports to better meet existing – and prepare for future – demand for air travel. This type of investment will create many employment opportunities, on top of the thousands of jobs already supported by the aviation industry.
“Expansion should be carried out in lockstep with the UK’s airspace modernisation strategy, and coordinated with other airport expansion programmes, to ensure the most efficient flow of air traffic into and out of airports across the UK.
“Along with investment in green energy and other measures to mitigate the impact of aviation growth on the environment, including noise, this will ensure a more efficient and sustainable aviation industry that can meet the challenges of the 21st Century.”.
Once planning permission is granted work could start almost immediately on upgrading the runway, a project that is expected to cost around £2.2bn, all of which will be privately financed.
London Gatwick Airport is used by many UK airlines including British Airways, easyJet, Wizz Air UK, TUI Airways UK and is home to Norse Atlantic UK. It also sees transatlantic flights from Westjet, Delta Airlines and Air Transat along with vital global connections via Dubai with Emirates and Doha with Qatar Airways.
