EasyJet has welcomed the announcement that Gatwick Airport has received Government approval for its £2.2 billion second runway project.
The runway was given the go-ahead by Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, who said in February she was ‘minded’ to approve the project but wanted to delay the decision until October.
Plans for the privately-financed project involve moving the current emergency northern runway 12 metres north, so it can be used for departures.
Once fully constructed, the runway will enable to airport to handle up to 100,000 extra flights a year by the late 2030s.
A Government source told national media the expansion was a ’no-brainer’ for economic growth, adding flights could take off from the new runway before 2029.
EasyJet CEO Kenton Jarvis said: “EasyJet welcomes the Government’s pro-growth agenda, which recognises the importance of aviation as an enabler of economic growth. easyJet is growing in the UK, creating jobs and providing important connectivity across the country.
“As Gatwick’s largest airline, we want to ensure expansion is affordable with the right infrastructure in place to ensure a good customer experience. We also support the Government’s plans to modernise airspace, which is going to be crucial for the industry to achieve sustainable growth.”
Gatwick Airport Managing Director Stewart Wingate said: “After a lengthy and rigorous planning process, we welcome the Government’s approval of plans to bring our Northern Runway into routine use, ahead of the expected deadline.
“This is another important gateway in the planning process for this £2.2bn investment, which is fully funded by our shareholders and will unlock significant growth, tourism and trade benefits for London Gatwick and the UK and create thousands of jobs.
“As we’ve said previously, it is essential that any planning conditions enable us to realise the full benefits of the project and do not impose unnecessary constraints that make it uneconomic to invest in.
“We now need to carefully examine the details of the planning consent. Once we have done that, we will be able to comment further.”
Local campaign group Communities Against Gatwick Noise Emissions (CAGNE) said it would take legal action through a judicial review, while the The Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign said it was a ‘profoundly irresponsible decision’.
