How the Northern Runway can help grow the UK economy
Bringing London Gatwick's Northern Runway into routine use is one of the biggest growth opportunities for the UK today.
It will help drive economic growth, business growth and tourism growth - inject an additional £1 billion into the UK economy every year, and create 14,000 jobs across the UK.
The £2.2 billion project is privately financed, requiring no taxpayer money - and is shovel ready. Our plans include moving the runway (currently used as a standby) 12 metres to allow London Gatwick, the UK's second busiest airport, to have a second fully functioning runway, paving the way to meet future demand for air travel.
The airport is already a major catalyst for growth, domestically and internationally connected, easily accessible, and equipped with world-class facilities.
This much needed growth plan meets the Government's test of making best use of existing infrastructure and maximising growth. Because the runway already exists, the project will all be completed with little disruption, and we will continue to be Europe's most efficient single runway airport until the project is complete.
On 27 February 2025, the Secretary of State for Transport issued a minded to approve letter for our growth plans. This letter, along with the Examining Authority's Recommendation Report and London Gatwick's response submitted on 24 April, can be found on the Planning Inspectorate website.
Our Capital Investment Programme is a rolling five-year view into over £2 billion of investment in our services and facilities. The programme is consulted upon with our airline partners and GATCOM's Passenger Advisory Group (PAG), so the investments are aligned with feedback to meet passenger needs.
This £140 million extension to our mid-airfield pier (Pier 6) will provide eight new aircraft gates adjacent to the airport's runways, saving one million passengers from being bused to remote aircraft stands each year.
An innovative approach to design and construction has put the project on track to achieve BREEAM ratings of "Excellent" (Overall) and "Outstanding" (Energy and water).
Read our Capital Investment Programme to discover more of the investment projects London Gatwick is undertaking for our passengers.
Chantelle at One Resourcing has helped find jobs for hundreds of people at the airport. From security officers to cabin crew and ground support, we're at the heart of local employment today and for future generations.
We’re an active and engaged member of Gatwick Diamond Business, and are delighted to help its members thrive through providing jobs, opportunities and driving investment, as a pillar of the local economy.
We have a strong programme of community investment. We support a range of initiatives and events across Surrey, Sussex and Kent.
A strong airport supports local growth. This helps us attract new and start-up technology businesses and green industry to the area.
We inform, inspire and invest in young people and we open up the world of opportunities to everyone. We support early careers and skills.