Gatwick Awaits Critical Northern Runway Decision
London Gatwick Airport is waiting for a government decision on its Northern Runway proposal, expected by 27 October. Chief Executive Stewart Wingate has said he is optimistic about approval for the plans, which are privately financed, ready to start and have been through a thorough planning process.
If approved, the £2.2 billion project is expected to create 14,000 additional jobs and generate £1 billion a year in regional economic growth. Gatwick currently supports 76,000 jobs and contributes £5.5 billion annually to the UK economy.
The scheme would lift passenger numbers to around 80.2 million a year by 2047, with 60,000 more flights annually, including additional long-haul routes. It is forecast to bring 1.6 million extra international inbound passengers each year by 2038 and to be worth £275 million a year to the Sussex visitor economy.
The airport says the project supports the Sussex Visitor Economy Growth Strategy, which aims to attract 500,000 more international tourists a year by 2034 and grow the sector from £5 billion to £7.5 billion. Tourism already supports more than 74,000 local jobs.
Richard Lennard, economic partnerships manager at Gatwick, has stressed that the runway is about connecting the UK to the fastest-growing parts of the world, not simply adding capacity. Gatwick already operates 54 long-haul routes and is working to expand links with China, Southeast Asia and the Gulf, which it identifies as key growth markets.
Source: UK Property Forums, original article (1 September 2025)
