UK airport capacity gains momentum
London Gatwick has secured government approval to bring its Northern Runway into routine use, unlocking one of the UK’s largest privately financed growth projects. The GBP2.2 bn investment will create 14,000 jobs, inject GBP1 bn annually into the economy and double runway capacity at the UK's second-busiest airport. Further to Oxford Economics, the volume of imports will more than double between 2019 and 2047, to 174,200 t.
The British International Freight Association (Bifa) welcomed the move, stressing the additional uplift for time-sensitive cargo flows and Gatwick’s rising role as a freight hub. The project, which involves shifting the standby runway 12 m, is shovel-ready and requires no taxpayer funding.
Meanwhile in Doncaster, South Yorkshire leaders have approved up to GBP160 m to reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport, which had been closed in 2022, with freight flights targeted for 2026. Together, the developments highlight a strong momentum in UK airport capacity expansion. (ah)