The UK government has approved plans to bring London Gatwick Airport’s northern runway into regular use, marking one of the airport’s most significant infrastructure decisions in recent decades. Gatwick, the UK’s second-largest airport and one of the ten busiest in Europe, handled 43 million passengers last year, and the planned expansion will enable further growth, tourism and trade development, as well as the creation of additional new jobs.
Until now, the northern runway has served exclusively as a taxiway, activated only in rare cases when the main runway was closed for maintenance or emergencies. Its inclusion in regular operations marks a step that will give Gatwick capacity comparable to airports with two active runways, increasing the number of take-offs and landings and ensuring greater resilience to traffic disruptions.
The project is valued at £2.2 billion and will be fully financed by the airport’s owners – VINCI Airports, which holds a 50.01% stake in Gatwick, and Global Infrastructure Partners with the remaining 49.99%. As part of a wider six-year £2 billion investment programme, Gatwick has also committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2030.
VINCI Airports’ UK Managing Director, Stewart Wingate, stressed that the government’s decision follows a long and detailed planning process. “We welcome the approval of plans for the routine use of the northern runway, which represents an important step in the development of Gatwick and the UK economy. It is essential that the planning conditions allow us to realise the full benefits of the project, without restrictions that would make it unviable,” Wingate said.
Gatwick is known as the world’s most efficient single-runway airport, with a declared capacity of 55 operations per hour. Adding a second active runway will allow further growth, and thanks to excellent connectivity with London and Southeast England – where more than 15 million people live within an hour’s drive – Gatwick is positioning itself as a key hub in the UK’s aviation and economic infrastructure.
The approval of the project marks the beginning of a new chapter in the airport’s history. Gatwick supports over 76,000 jobs through its operations and wider economic impact, generating £5.5 billion in gross value added annually. The introduction of the northern runway into regular use is expected to further strengthen its position as one of Europe’s most important aviation hubs.
