The battle between Heathrow and Gatwick to gain support for additional runways is intensifying as Gatwick launches a new campaign.

 

Gatwick’s management has launched its new push under the banner ‘Gatwick Obviously’ and is promising to submit new research to the Airports Commission in May to demonstrate that a second runway at Gatwick would deliver more connections to more destinations than a third runway at Heathrow.

 

The Gatwick argument is that its project would also represent ‘a fraction of the environmental cost’ and could be delivered up and running before the Heathrow ‘model’. The plan is also being backed by Sir Terry Farrell. He is described as the leading architect planner who says that an expanded Gatwick would have ‘an Olympic scale effect, across South London and the wider metropolitan region.

 

But whether Gatwick ends up being a winner or a loser will depend on the argument that can be made by Heathrow Ceo Colin Matthews, who couldn’t resist pointing to the withdrawal of Garuda Indonesia’s proposed Gatwick to Jakarta service this week in favour of establishing this point-to-point service instead at Amsterdam Schiphol.

 

While Matthews points to Gatwick’s loss, the real loser is actually UK Plc since direct long-haul flights are critical to supporting trade and growth. As Heathrow management says, UK businesses trades 20 times more with emerging markets that have daily flights than those with less frequent or no direct services.

 

The Heathrow third runway ‘North West’ option.

 

HEATHROW vs. GATWICK…

Meanwhile, Sir Terry Farrell’s team has been demonstrating how expansion at Gatwick would provide better balanced growth for London, the region and the UK.

 

He says that with the majority of traffic shared between London’s two major airports, the economic benefits would be more evenly distributed across London and the South East and have significant regenerative benefits in particular for South London, including Croydon and down to Brighton and the South Coast.

 

Gatwick argues that expanding its facilities would help the UK connect to 27 more destinations than a third runway at Heathrow (442 vs. 415 destinations served from London). The same research also apparently shows that a second runway, as part of the network of airports surrounding London, would cater for 11m more passengers each year by 2050 than a three-runway Heathrow.

 

In a presentation in London today, Stewart Wingate, London Gatwick CEO said: “The next runway needs to bring the greatest economic return for the UK at the lowest environmental cost. That makes Gatwick the obvious answer, as we will be able to connect to more destinations in the future because we are the only airport to cater for all airline models. It is the best solution that embraces long-term aviation trends.

 

“It can also be delivered in less time with less cost and less noise. Most importantly, passengers will benefit from more choice and better value for money. If chosen – and with swift decision making – we are committing today to start work on site in the next Parliament.”

 

TOP IMAGE: Sir Terry Farrell’s vision of a dual runway at Gatwick Airport, which is currently the busiest single runway airport in the world.