London, 20 July (Argus) — A second runway at London's Gatwick airport could be necessary to handle capacity growth in the crowded southeast UK market, the airport said in a policy document.
The airport aims to grow passenger numbers by around 19pc to 40.2mn, by 2021. This would mean increasing traffic during off-peak hours on its existing single runway, more effectively managing peak-hour traffic and by handling large planes. But it said the 45mn passengers per year it expects to handle by 2030 would put the single runway airport at full capacity.
“We do need to anticipate that, in the long term, a second runway at Gatwick may be needed,” the airport said, adding it will continue “to safeguard land for one should it be needed in the future”.
Under a 1970s government agreement, construction of a second runway at Gatwick is prohibited before 2019. But in Gatwick's master plan, the single runway, two terminal airport could handle demand until at least 2024.
Earlier this month, the UK government angered airlines by deferring guidance on the airport capacity issues in the southeast UK, either through a third runway at Heathrow, second runways at Gatwick or Stansted airports or a new airport in the Thames estuary.
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