Gatwick Airport launches its vision for the future
13-Oct-2011 Gatwick publishes its draft master plan setting out its vision for developing the airport to accomodate 40 million passengers a year by 2020Gatwick remains committed to achieving growth through its single runway and two passenger terminal operationKey focus on investment, economy, transport links and employmentPublic consultation will be extensive as Gatwick uses online and social media which is available 24/7 to ensure everyone can have a say.
Today marks the beginning of a three-month public consultation on Gatwick Airport's draft master plan. This plan supersedes the 2006 interim master plan published under the previous ownership. As an independent airport, Gatwick is now looking ahead to 2020, setting out in detail the developments required for the airport to make the best use of its single runway.
Stewart Wingate, CEO of Gatwick Airport said: "Our ambition is to compete to grow and become London's airport of choice. Today we set out our vision for the future and how we can grow to handle 40 million passengers by 2020. Our plans focus on continuing to improve service levels by investing in the airport, our employees and in the communities we serve. I encourage those who live and work around Gatwick to share their views with us."
Much of the development needed to support this growth is already underway through Gatwick's £1 billion investment programme. This week, Gatwick opened its new £45 million 19-lane state-of-the-art security area that will see passengers benefiting from a fast, smart and efficient security experience. Next month, a £75 million expansion of its North Terminal will be complete, creating more space with new check-in desks and baggage facilities. Longer term plans will see projects that will enable Airbus A380 operations, expand North Terminal security search area, provide additional pier-served aircraft stands and reconfigure the North Terminal international departure lounge.
Gatwick is also exploring ways of using its existing runway more efficiently. Growing traffic during off-peak periods when existing runway capacity is not being fully utilised is one way of doing this. Bringing in newer, larger aircraft at Gatwick will also encourage growth in passenger numbers and this will require some minor adjustments to the airfield and the way passengers are handled from these aircraft.
The aviation industry contributes £53 billion to the UK economy every year. Gatwick is a central part of this contribution. Gatwick currently generates around £2 billion annually to the economy of London and the South East. It also directly employs 2,500 people, with an additional 23,000 airport jobs and a further 10,500 jobs in the local area being directly or indirectly supported by the airport. By 2020, Gatwick's growth should create an extra 1,700 on-airport jobs with over double that number of local support jobs. It will also generate a further £300 million to the economies of London and the South East alone.
Travelling to and from the airport is an important part of the passenger experience and Gatwick wants to offer a strong range of service options. Today, 40% of all Gatwick passengers come by public transport. One third arrive and leave by rail. By 2020 there will be more people on local rail services and roads as a result of our future growth. In 2012 work begins on Network Rail's £53 million rail station enhancement scheme, to which Gatwick contributed £7.9 million, will see additional platforms to accommodate more trains whilst improving the overall experience.
To find out more and provide comments on Gatwick's draft master plan please visit the consultation website www.gatwickairport.com/masterplan, attend a drop-in session being held in various locations in the community or request a copy by post or by phone.