Gatwick Airport second runway decision expected

UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander is expected to make a written statement to Parliament announcing whether or not to approve Gatwick Airport's expansion to two simultaneously operating runways. The airport plans to convert its existing northern runway, currently used only for taxiing or as a backup, into an operational runway, aiming for it to be operational by the end of this decade.

Gatwick Airport is Europe's busiest single-runway airport, handling over 40 million passengers last year. If approved, the expansion project would commence immediately. However, the plan has met with strong opposition from MPs, local governments, and local residents.

Alexander told industry leaders on Tuesday that she has "no intention of clipping anyone's wings," and emphasized the positive role of the aviation industry in economic growth. Speaking at the British Air Transport Association's annual dinner in London, she said: "I'm not one of those environmentalists who promote 'flight shame'. I love flying - always have."

Gatwick Airport management states that the airport is already saturated during peak hours, with up to 55 aircraft movements per hour. Gatwick Airport estimates that if both runways were operational, the number of flights taking off each year could increase by 50,000 by the late 2030s. Approximately 30,000 of these are planned to take off from the northern runway, which would only be used for departures, not for landings.

Bronwen Jones, Gatwick Airport's Development Director, believes that a second runway would be "good for everyone." She told the BBC: "We will create 14,000 additional jobs and bring an additional £1 billion a year to the national economy." She added that the expansion would increase flight slots on both runways, thus "allowing us to offer new routes, new airlines, and increase frequencies on existing routes, giving passengers more choice."

A key part of the planning application is obtaining permission to move the second runway 12 meters (39 feet) north. This would bring it into compliance with the international safety standard of 210 meters between runway centerlines. The project would be funded by £2.2 billion of private investment.

Sally Pavey, Chair of the Communities Against Gatwick Noise Emissions (CAGNE), fears "uncontrolled noise, the impact on roads, declining air quality... and climate change." She stated: "We cannot continue to ignore climate change and it is wrong to allow a new 'holiday' runway to be built at the expense of residents and the economy." Gatwick Airport is mainly considered a short-haul holiday destination airport, with far fewer business and long-haul flights than Heathrow.

She added that if the expansion plan is implemented, the organization will take legal action through judicial review. Gatwick Airport has stated that it has committed to reducing noise levels below 2019 levels - CAGNE says that was one of the noisiest years.

Last month, Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves supported the construction of the controversial third runway at Heathrow Airport, insisting that it would not undermine decarbonization targets and would be beneficial for economic growth. On Wednesday, the government's independent advisory body, the UK Committee on Climate Change (UKCCC), recommended that in order to meet national climate goals, greenhouse gas emissions from the country's aviation industry need to be reduced by 17% compared to 2003 levels.

The committee stated that pollution from flying can be reduced by converting aircraft to sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and capturing emitted greenhouse gases. However, experts believe that obtaining the raw materials needed to manufacture SAF, such as corn or food waste, could be challenging. The UKCCC stated that the best way to reduce the aviation industry's impact on climate change is to significantly reduce the demand for flying.

At current levels, demand is projected to grow by 53% by 2040, while the UKCCC believes this figure should be closer to 16%. Last year, the committee advised the government to "halt airport expansion" until it developed a method for managing changes in airport capacity across the UK. But it has now changed its advice because it believes that technological developments will decarbonize the aviation industry to a greater extent than previously anticipated.

Now, it recommends developing contingency plans, including limiting airport expansion, in case these technologies fail to materialize. Alex Chapman of the New Economics Foundation questioned the government's argument that a second runway at Gatwick Airport would boost overall UK economic growth. He said: "This is primarily an investment that is likely to support the economy around the airport and in London and the South East, but at the expense of other regions." "Does it make sense to spend the carbon budget on this kind of luxury when other areas of this economy are struggling?"