黑洞社区

黑洞社区 a second runway at Gatwick airport will enable more flights, carrying more passengers, to more destinations than Heathrow鈥檚 rival expansion plans, Gatwick鈥檚 boss has said.

Speaking at a press conference in London this week to promote Gatwick鈥檚 expansion plans, Gatwick chief executive Stewart Wingate said Gatwick鈥檚 proposal for a second runway would allow 10 million more passengers to fly and add 27 more destinations by 2050 than rival plans to expand Heathrow.

Gatwick鈥檚 expansion is one of , which is examining options for expanding airport capacity in the South-east of England.

The other two options are alternative plans to expand Heathrow.

Wingate revealed Gatwick is working with consultant Turner & Townsend on 鈥渃ost plans and phasing plans鈥� for its 拢7bn scheme, which could be operational by 2025.

The Gatwick scheme 鈥� which Sir Terry Farrell鈥檚 practice is masterplanning 鈥� also includes building a third terminal building and an integrated transport hub linking the airport with central London, the Oak Common HS2 interchange, and other towns in southern England.

Wingate said aviation trends suggested the UK would need to bolster its short haul flight services 鈥� which Gatwick currently specialises in 鈥� rather than focusing on long haul.

Gatwick-commissioned research shows noise from its airport disturbs just 3% of the number of residents disturbed by noise at Heathrow.

Wingate said: 鈥淭he best way to limit impact of noise is to geographically choose the right location.鈥�

He also pointed out the new runway will be built on 鈥渟afeguarded land鈥�, whereas one of Heathrow鈥檚 proposals requires the closure and building over of the M25.

Wingate said: 鈥淚t makes more sense to share capacity between airports and have a more balanced approach, rather than putting all our eggs in one basket [at Heathrow]鈥�.

Farrell said Gatwick鈥檚 plans were 鈥渇undamentally transformational鈥� and would create 鈥渁 truly international airport that can compete with anyone鈥�.

Farrell said promoting a constellation of airports was logical in a 鈥渂ig metropolis鈥� where people are living across a wide area and was also seen in cities like Tokyo, Beijing, Paris and New York.