The UK government announced on Sunday its approval for a second runway at London Gatwick Airport. The £2.2 million ($2.96 million) project gained approval after the government signaled in February its inclination to expand the nation’s second-largest airport.
Transport Minister Heidi Alexander previously issued a “minded to approve” note, supporting Gatwick’s proposal to fully utilize its backup runway, aiming to accommodate millions more passengers by the 2030s.
A Department for Transport representative confirmed on Sunday that after thorough evaluation, Alexander has approved the airport’s expansion to include regular use of its existing northern runway. “Following an extensive and detailed planning process, we celebrate the government’s approval to bring our Northern Runway into regular operation, ahead of schedule,” stated VINCI Airports’ Managing Director Steven Wingate in a statement on Gatwick’s website.
VINCI Airports holds a 50.01% ownership in London Gatwick, as noted on their site.
Wingate mentioned that shareholders fully fund the investment, emphasizing the need for planning conditions that maximize project benefits without imposing economically unfeasible constraints.
Gatwick’s strategy involves shifting the backup runway by 12 meters to comply with safety regulations, enabling both runways to function potentially by decade’s end, enhancing trade, tourism, and generating 14,000 jobs.
Alexander aims to fortify the Gatwick expansion plan to withstand potential legal challenges from local and environmental opponents.
The government asserts that the use of sustainable aviation fuel ensures that airport expansions do not hinder net-zero goals, also supporting a new runway at Gatwick’s larger competitor, Heathrow.
