The UK government expressed preliminary approval on Thursday for the expansion of Gatwick Airport by adding a second runway, with several conditions in place, such as improvements in noise reduction measures. Environmental groups have reacted with disbelief to this decision. In a formal statement, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander indicated her inclination to sanction the extension, which focuses on rearranging Gatwick’s secondary runway, currently reserved for taxiing or emergency use. However, the initial project plan for Gatwick faced rejection and was subsequently revised, leading to potential delays in final approval by about nine months.
According to the newly outlined proposal, Gatwick must ensure that at least half of its passengers use public transport to and from the airport while also committing to noise mitigation strategies. Situated approximately 40 miles south of London, Gatwick is the nation’s highest traffic single-runway airport and ranks second overall after London’s Heathrow Airport in terms of passenger numbers. The plan necessitates relocating Gatwick’s standby runway 12 meters northward, meeting international safety standards, to enable its use for departing narrow-bodied aircraft models like the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737.
Privately funded, this project is slated to cost around 2.2 billion pounds (approximately $2.8 billion) and could be finished by the decade’s end, assuming construction commences this year. This expansion is projected to facilitate an additional 100,000 flights annually, increasing total capacity to more than 380,000 flights. The anticipated outcome includes the creation of 14,000 new jobs and a boost to the national economy, adding about 1 billion pounds (or $1.26 billion) annually in economic benefits.
Gatwick is predominantly owned by France’s VINCI Airports and is expected to respond formally to these updated proposals by April 24. Alexander is set to make a definitive decision thereafter, although the deadline has been extended until October 27.
Gatwick CEO Stewart Wingate responded positively to the announcement, stating that the airport plans to thoroughly engage with the extended decision-making process. “By enhancing resilience and capacity, we can bolster the UK’s leadership in global connectivity, thereby fostering significant trade and economic growth in southeast England and beyond,” he noted.
Yet, this provisional endorsement has been met with stern criticism from climate activists, especially since it comes on the heels of government support for a third runway at Heathrow Airport, Britain’s busiest. This move aligns with the government’s strategy to accelerate the UK’s sluggish economic growth, with airport expansion playing a central role. Greenpeace UK’s policy director, Doug Parr, criticized the decision, arguing it reflects a misguided approach and ignores clear evidence that suggests merely increasing air travel does not drive economic growth. According to Parr, the most significant outcomes will likely be heightened air pollution, noise, and climate emissions.
