Opinion

The UK’s next runway: only Gatwick’s expansion plan comes guaranteed

Alistair McDermid, director, Gatwick

The aviation debate in the UK has now reached a critical phase. Gatwick Airport director Alistair McDermid sets out his case for investment in a new runway.

The Airports Commission, appointed by the Government to come up with a solution for more runway capacity in the South East, has before it a straight choice between Gatwick and Heathrow for one new runway by 2030 and is expected to make a recommendation within the month.

Every month that the construction of Britain’s new runway is delayed is a month of missed economic growth for our country but, while we all want the UK to prosper, we cannot pursue economic benefits at any cost to the environment.

"Our plan is quicker, lower risk, lower cost and increases competition in the airport system, keeping fares fair for everyone."

After decades of delay and debate over Heathrow, especially in terms of its noise, air quality, and congestion, there is now a deliverable solution on the table; a second runway at Gatwick. 

We can build our runway much faster than Heathrow and we don’t have the same huge challenges they face, such as putting the M25 into a tunnel, widening the M4 or flying 130,000 extra planes over our capital city.

Our plan is quicker, lower risk, lower cost and increases competition in the airport system, keeping fares fair for everyone. Last month, the Gatwick Board made five guarantees to underpin our proposition, which is vital for the UK’s long-term growth:

  1. Fair to taxpayers: Our runway will open in 2025 and will be completely privately funded. London gets a competitive airport system sooner and without the £6 billion bill to taxpayers Heathrow expansion would need.
  2. Fair to passengers: Gatwick will cap airport charges at an inflation-linked £15 limit to ensure that fares are kept low for all passengers. We predict Heathrow will have to charge each passenger £40 if they expand. 
  3. Fair to Government: There will be no public sector risk for the Government to carry as Gatwick will bear all expansion-related long-term risks, including construction costs, traffic levels and market pricing. 
  4. Fair to local people: Gatwick will pay £1000 annually towards the council tax of local people most affected by noise now and those who will be when a second runway is operational, an industry-leading initiative. 
  5. Fair to the environment: Gatwick has never breached UK or EU air quality guidelines and we operate one of the cleanest aircraft fleets in Europe. We guarantee that air quality levels in the local area will remain within the legal limits with a second runway and that this will be achieved without having to introduce a congestion charge, unlike Heathrow. 

"Heathrow’s location brings with it a scale of environmental, social, political and legal issues that pose serious questions as to whether expansion would even be possible there"

Gatwick expansion will bring the economic benefits of increased airport capacity faster, at a lower cost to the consumer and at no cost to the taxpayer all while minimising the impacts on the environment and the community.

Heathrow’s location brings with it a scale of environmental, social, political and legal issues that pose serious questions as to whether expansion would even be possible there.

Choosing Gatwick will mean construction starting in 2020 and an operational runway by 2025. Fewer people affected. No tunnelling the M25. No £6bn taxpayer subsidy at a tough time for public finances.

The debate will reach a conclusion this summer and most people agree on one thing - that something actually needs to happen. Only Gatwick will give the UK the runway it needs.

 

Alistair McDermid is a director at Gatwick Airport and leads the airports work with the Davies Airports Commission