Gatwick wins approval for second runway, set to widen direct-flight map
Privately financed project worth about £2.2 billion moves forward; capacity could rise to 1,066 daily movements and unlock dozens of new holiday destinations by 2030, possibly earlier.
Gatwick Airport has won government approval to build a second runway in a privately financed project valued at about £2.2 billion. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander granted the go-ahead, saying the expansion would widen the airport's capacity and could bring new holiday destinations within reach as early as 2029 or 2030. The project is financed privately, with construction targeted for completion by the end of the decade.
Under the plan, Gatwick will move its emergency runway 13 yards north, allowing it to be used for departures of narrow-body aircraft such as Airbus A320s and Boeing 737s. The shift, along with airfield improvements, would enable about 100,000 more flights a year, increasing daily movements from about 767 to as many as 1,066.
Gatwick has the distinction of handling more flights with a single runway than any other airport, with annual traffic exceeding 40 million passengers. In 2024 the airport processed roughly 265,000 flights in total. The second runway would dramatically expand capacity and allow more flights, including holiday departures, by making use of the existing standby runway that would be moved and upgraded to support departures.
The additional runway would be used primarily for departures of narrow-body aircraft; with more available slots, carriers could expand their schedules. Gatwick currently offers direct service to more than 225 destinations. The extra capacity could unlock new direct routes. Destinations not yet served directly from Gatwick include Amman in Jordan, Graz in Austria, Sofia in Bulgaria, Brno-Turany in the Czech Republic, Perugia in Italy, and Yerevan in Armenia, among others. If realized, the expansion would widen the airport’s holiday reach and could connect customers to a broader roster of leisure destinations.
Industry observers note the move could intensify competition among UK airports and give travelers more choice, potentially pressuring fares downward if capacity is released to additional airlines. The project is expected to bolster the regional economy by supporting tourism and services in West Sussex and the wider Southeast, where travel demand remains robust for get-away trips.
Officials emphasize the plan remains contingent on final regulatory approvals and private funding timelines. While the target remains to have the hub ready by around 2030, some officials said an opening could come before the next general election, which would be by the summer of 2029. The government has framed the decision as a step toward expanding the country’s aviation capacity in a financially sustainable manner, leveraging private investment rather than public spending.
As Gatwick moves toward construction, industry watchers will be watching how the airport negotiates slot allocation with legacy and low-cost carriers and how nearby airports respond to the potential shift in flight patterns and market share. The outcome could shape regional travel options for years to come, particularly for holiday travelers seeking more direct connections from the south of England.