Gatwick Airport’s £2.2 billion expansion plan has been approved by the transport secretary, Heidi Alexander. The project, funded privately, aims to significantly boost the airport’s capacity by relocating the emergency runway to facilitate departures of narrow-bodied aircraft like the Airbus A320s and Boeing 737s.
Gatwick currently operates with one conventional runway and a standby runway primarily used for taxiing and emergency situations when the main runway is unavailable. The need for expansion arises due to Gatwick being the UK’s second busiest airport and facing capacity constraints on its single runway, causing disruptions during peak periods.
To bring the standby runway into regular use, it must be shifted 12 meters northward to comply with aviation safety regulations. The expansion plan also includes reconfiguring taxiways, extending terminals, adding new aircraft gates, and improving road and rail connections to the airport.
Upon completion, the project is estimated to increase Gatwick’s flight capacity from 286,000 to approximately 386,000 flights annually, offering more flight options to passengers and potentially raising annual passenger numbers from 45 million to 75 million by the late 2030s. The total cost of the project is forecasted at £2.2 billion, with Gatwick committing to financing it without imposing additional charges on airlines.
There are opposing views on the expansion, with critics expressing concerns about environmental impacts, noise pollution, and property devaluation in surrounding areas. Despite opposition, Gatwick remains resolute in its expansion plans, unaffected by the proposal for a third runway at Heathrow.