Press Release

BAA Gatwick launched its Corporate Responsibility website and report this week, which details the airport’s progress on environmental, economic and social performance during 2005 - 2006, as well as a range of information about how the airport manages corporate responsibility. The report also details successful partnership projects with local authorities, airlines, the local community and voluntary organisations achieved throughout the year.

For the first time the report has been made available in a downloadable format on BAA’s website, www.gatwickairport.com/corporateresponsibility, as well as a hard copy summary report. Next year, as part of BAA Gatwick’s ongoing corporate responsibility efforts, BAA Gatwick are moving away from paper and towards the internet.

The report reviews progress made against performances on 12 issues: air quality, biodiversity, climate change, noise, surface transport, waste, water, ‘our people’, health and safety, security, local communities and the airport’s economic role. The report is independently audited and verified by environmental consultants Environmental Resources Management Ltd (ERM).

In spite of the stretching nature of the targets, the auditors found that the airport made important strides on a number of issues. Surface transport was one area highlighted as being a particular success. The number of passengers using public transport increased to 32% as a result of a robust surface transport strategy which offers safe, reliable and affordable travel options for both passengers and staff. Integral to this strategy is BAA Gatwick’s campaign to retain the Gatwick Express as a dedicated non stop service from the airport to the heart of London for passengers and airport staff. The retention of this much valued service is critical to the over arching objective to increase the proportion of passengers using public transport to travel to and from the airport to 40% by 2012.

BAA Gatwick made progress towards introducing energy efficiency technologies that help to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions from energy consumed. A reduction of around 1% less than business as usual was achieved through initiatives such as lighting controls on major projects and a metering system which allows measurement of energy use and the pinpointing of areas where energy could be saved.

The target of achieving 24% of waste recycling was also achieved through a combination of measures such as influencing business partners to come on board with the sustainable waste strategy and a highly effective waste collection and segregation system, that includes providing the infrastructure and service to encourage office staff and retail outlets to recycle their waste. Last year over 4,384 tonnes of waste was recycled including 1198.19 tonnes of cardboard, 642.36 tonnes of metal and 441.56 tonnes of office paper.

The report also details the many successes of last year, such as the opening in May 2005 of the airport’s £110 million iconic air passenger bridge, Pier 6- the largest of its kind in the world to span a live taxiway and which provides the North Terminal with 11 new pier served stands. In addition, a new £40 million extension to the South Terminal’s baggage reclaim hall was opened, with three new reclaim belts to increase baggage capacity by 40%. All development projects incorporate the principles of sustainable development through integration of a environmental evaluation at the outset.

BAA Gatwick was also commended for its positive contribution to local communities, as achieved through a number of partnership projects with local authorities, schools, community and environmental groups.

An important area where a target was not met was the issue of aircraft noise. BAA Gatwick was tasked with increasing the use of Continuous Descent Approach for arriving aircraft at night from an average of 89% to over 90%. CDA is a designated route for aircraft aimed at minimising the noise impact as much as possible for the local community. Compliance last year was at 83%, however BAA Gatwick remains committed to working closely with National Air Traffic Control and airlines to improve performance this year and to minimise the impact of aircraft noise on our local communities.

Paul Griffiths Managing Director, BAA Gatwick commented, “It has been a year of challenge and opportunity for the airport, with many big projects coming to fruition. I fully recognise that with growth and economic success comes responsibility. Gatwick’s growth must be sustainable and we must limit our impact on our neighbours and the environment, which is why this report is so crucial in communicating our achievements and also highlighting areas where we must strive to do better this year.

Overall, I believe that we have developed a robust approach to achieving good corporate citizenship and our challenge for the future is to make further step changes in managing the impacts of that growth”.

Media enquiries

Notes to Editors
• The corporate responsibility report can be viewed on www.gatwickairport.com/corporateresponsibility
• Alternative formats of the report can be obtained by calling 0800 731 4247
• ERM Ltd is a independent, global environmental and social consultancy with expertise in a diverse range of areas. ERM has experience in the design, development and assurance of sustainability reports in a wide range of industry sectors.