Gatwick expansion – alternative to Heathrow third runway?
Thursday, 18 Dec, 2008
0
Expanding Gatwick with a second runway has emerged as a potential alternative to building a third runway at Heathrow.
A confidential memo from BAA, owner of both airports, reportedly suggests that capacity at Gatwick could be raised from 45 million passengers a year to 80 million. This compares to the 67 million that used Heathrow last year.
The Times reported that the memo to potential bidders to take over Gatwick shows where a new runway would be positioned, a kilometre south of the existing one.
Details of the memo emerged as the Competition Commission questioned government policy over expansion of Heathrow and Stansted instead of Gatwick. It called for BAA to dispose of Stansted and Edinburgh airports in addition to Gatwick, which has already been put up for sale (see previous TravelMole story).
A binding agreement signed with West Sussex County Council in 1979 prevents expansion of Gatwick until 2019.
But this could still allow for construction to begin on a second runway ready to become operational with the first phase of a new terminal by 2023 or early 2024.
It is reported that the environmental impact of expansion at Gatwick would be less than at Heathrow.
by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Clearing CSS/JS assets' cache... Please wait until this notice disappears...
Updating... Please wait...
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11