Gatwick chairman makes final plea for expansion

Ahead of the meeting to decide the potential location of UK’s next runway, Gatwick chairman Sir Roy McNulty has written to the members of the Economic and Industrial Strategy (Airports) sub-Committee.  

In the letter, Sir Roy outlines why Gatwick is the right answer for Britain and the solution that can unlock a policy conundrum that has defeated successive Governments for decades, because:

• it is straightforward to build, simple to deliver and a low risk proposition for Government and does not involve years of uncertainty, massive disruption in tunnelling the M25
• there can be confidence that air quality around Gatwick will be legal – the importance of this cannot be overstated given the history of this debate
• Gatwick can have planning by the end of this Parliament and planes taking off from a new runway in the next. Britain cannot afford another false start. and
• Gatwick is prepared to underwrite the risk of delivering a new runway on time and on budget which means, with Gatwick, the risk rests with Gatwick but with Heathrow, the risk sits with airlines, passengers and Government.

McNulty said: “Gatwick expansion is the progressive competitive option. It would build on the success of airport competition that has seen more choice, improved services and lower fares for passengers. It would help write the next chapter in this success story rather than turn the clock back to the old monopoly of the past.

“Britain needs a competitive new runway open as soon as possible, a failsafe path to overseas markets and to growth. And that puts a premium on certainty.  Give Gatwick the green light and we can help guarantee balanced growth for all of Britain. A London with two world class airports can send a powerful signal to the world that Britain is truly open for business.”