London Gatwick Airport (LGW/EGKK) could soon see up to 50,000 extra flights per year if the UK Government approves plans to upgrade its stand-by runway for dual-use operations.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander is expected to formally announce the move tomorrow. Yesterday, she addressed an industry event and said she valued the UK’s airline industry’s role in the economy and said she was not a “flight-shaming eco-warrior.”
Gatwick Airport has wanted to use its second runway (26R/08L) for some time but it is currently only used when the main runway (26L/08R) is unserviceable.
The plans include moving the runway slightly north of its current position to create a greater separation between the two runways allowing one to be used for departures and one to be used for arrivals simultaneously.
The project is expected to cost £2.2bn but will be privately financed by the airport and its partners and it should be completed in the late 2030s.
Addressing environmental concerns Heidi Alexander told the UK airline event “This Government believes in increasing airport capacity. We’re ambitious for the sector. But these strict criteria must be met if we are to balance the needs of today with the necessities of tomorrow.”
The move follows the Government backing the building of a third runway at London Heathrow Airport (LHR/EGLL)