Gatwick Airport has announced plans to bring its emergency runway into routine use as part of a 2.2bn expansion project, but who will pay for the works and when might the new runway open?

Gatwick Airport has had its £2.2billion plan green lit by the transport secretary, Heidi Alexander.

With the privately financed project, the West Sussex hub is aiming to massively increase its capacity. Gatwick will move its emergency runway slightly to the north, enabling it to be used for departures of narrow-bodied planes such as Airbus A320s and Boeing 737s.

– How many runways does Gatwick have?

It has one conventional runway, and one standby runway.

– What is the standby runway used for?

It is mostly used for aircraft to taxi to and from terminals, but is also used when the main runway is closed for emergencies or maintenance.

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– Why does Gatwick want to expand?

It is the UK’s second busiest airport and one of the busiest single-runway airports in the world. Spare slots at peak periods are scarce and the runway is heavily utilised, meaning disruption can have a severe knock-on effect.

– What must happen to the standby runway for it to be brought into routine use?

It must be moved 12 metres to the north – away from the main runway – to meet strict aviation safety rules.

– What else does the plan involve?

Remodelling and replacing existing taxiways, which connect runways to terminals, hangars and other facilities, extending both terminals, and installing new aircraft gates.

– How about transport?

Gatwick says it would pay for road connections to both terminals to be enhanced, creating fly-overs which separate local traffic from vehicles travelling to or from the airport. A £250 million upgrade of the airport’s railway station was completed in November 2023.

– What would the standby runway be used for?

Departures of narrow-bodied planes such as Airbus A320s and Boeing 737s.

– What impact would that have on Gatwick’s capacity for flights?

This would allow the airport to accommodate approximately 386,000 flights per year, a significant increase from the current 286,000. From the passenger’s perspective, that would increase the number of options when it comes to flying to established destinations, while also, presumably, upping the airports Gatwick is connected to.

– How about annual passenger numbers?

The number of passengers could potentially surge from around 45 million to a staggering 75 million by the late 2030s.

– How much will the project cost?

Gatwick has estimated the project to be priced at a hefty £2.2 billion.

– Who will pay for it?

The airport has assured that the project will be privately financed, promising to cover the costs without increasing charges to airlines.

– When could the new runway open?

A Government source hinted that flights could commence from the new full runway before 2029.

– Who owns Gatwick Airport?

The airport is owned by French firm Vinci and investment fund Global Infrastructure Partners.

– Does Heathrow’s third runway proposal affect Gatwick?

While the Government has shown support for Heathrow’s expansion plan, Gatwick remains undeterred in its ambition to enhance its own capacity.

– Does anyone oppose it?

Zack Polanski, the new Green Party leader, described ministers’ support of a second Gatwick runway as a “disaster”. “It ignores basic climate science and risks undermining efforts to tackle the climate crisis. Labour keeps wheeling out the same nonsense about growth, but at what cost? What this really means is more pollution, more noise for local communities, and no real economic benefit,” he said.

CAGNE, a residents campaign group that has long opposed the expansion of Gatwick, added: “As this is a new runway by the backdoor, offering little compensation for some and nothing for the majority of residents whose homes will be devalued as will areas of outstanding natural beauty and places of historic importance. As the only guarantee Gatwick has offered is that instead of one runway starting up at 6.30am until 11.30pm at night there will be two, so double the noise over rural areas.”