Gatwick Blog

Gatwick Airport is calling on the Airports Commission to allow greater competition between London’s airports.

It argues that the way to deliver increased connectivity is not through traditional hub airports and that the Airport Commission should not accept the “Heathrow hub” or “new hub airport” arguments, but to allow existing airports to compete for airlines and passengers.

Gatwick suggests that the way forward is to make use of existing capacity in the short to medium term, and that the UK already has excellent air connectivity with London serving more destinations than any other European city. Gatwick itself offers flights to half the world’s fastest growing economies.

Stewart Wingate, CEO of Gatwick Airport said: “It is true we will need additional capacity in the future. Without it, connectivity will be severely affected and the passenger experience will be impacted by unacceptable delays and rising prices.
“However, relentless suggestions that traditional “hubs” are the answer is misleading. Evidence shows that the London market is predominantly an Origins & Destinations market which means that most passengers begin or end their journey in London. A mega-hub airport therefore would be yesterday’s solution to tomorrow’s problem.

“We must not be blindly led to believe that because some of our European competitors serve more marginal routes to emerging markets, that we are falling behind them or that this is happening because Heathrow is full. If real competition is allowed to flourish, as it has at Gatwick, new routes will be created where there is market demand. For example, already this year Gatwick has added a route to Indonesia, demonstrating that competition is capable of delivering the connectivity needed by London and the UK. easyJet has also added a route to Moscow providing lower fares than the competing routes from Heathrow, again showing that competition is the answer ”

Barely a day goes past when someone supports or objects to expanding Heathrow, or building ‘Boris Island’ in the Thames Estuary.

But Gatwick received a boost this week, receiving high profile support from Cabinet Minister, MP Philip Hammond, the country’s Defence Secretary. His support and comments come as the Government waits to hear the results of the Davis Commission report into the South East’s air capacity problems.

Mr Hammond said a second runway at Gatwick, a proposal put forward late last year by the airport, could solve the capacity problem in the region. Currently, the Department of Transport forecasts that for the South East will reach full capacity by 2020, so something needs to be done.

The time, not to mention money, to build a new airport and the surrounding infrastructure will take far longer when the serious capacity problems kick in – in just seven years time. Many aviation industry heads and business figures worry that the lack of capacity will seriously damage the UK’s economic recovery.

Mr Hammond also supports a second runway at Stansted – after the additional Gatwick runway is built – saying a Gatwick runway would ‘provide decades worth of passenger growth capacity’ and two additional runways at two separate airports – Gatwick and Stansted – would ‘prevent a disastrous closure of Heathrow’.

The Defence Secretary strongly objects to expansion at Heathrow, along with what he described as the ‘fanciful’ Boris Island suggestion by London Lord Mayor, Boris Johnson.

Gatwick Airport is the UK’s second largest airport, as well as the busiest single runway airport in the world!

Gatwick offers the largest choice of carriers – including budget, scheduled and charter airlines – and destinations than any other UK airport and is arguably the UK’s airport of choice.

If you’re flying out of Gatwick Airport this year then be sure to get a quote for the easiest, most convenient type of airport parking, Gatwick meet and greet parking.