Runways At Gatwick: A Comprehensive Overview

Gatwick Airport, located 30 miles south of central London, is the second-largest airport in the UK and the busiest single-runway airport in the world. While it has two runways, the proximity between them means they cannot be used simultaneously. The airport's plans to develop its second runway have faced opposition from environmental campaigners and local councils.

Gatwick Airport's £2.2bn plan for a second runway

Gatwick Airport in London currently operates as the world's busiest single-runway airport. While it does have two runways, the proximity in distance between the two means that they cannot be used simultaneously. The airport's main runway is 3,316 metres long and 45 metres wide, while the northern runway is currently used as a taxiway or a standby when the main runway is out of use.

Gatwick Airport has proposed a £2.2 billion plan to bring its northern runway into full routine use alongside the main runway. The plan, known as the Northern Runway Project, involves repositioning the centre line of the northern runway 12 metres north to allow for greater clearance from the main runway. This would enable dual runway operations, with the main runway being used for arrivals and the northern runway for departures of smaller aircraft, such as the Airbus A320 or Boeing 737.

The proposed expansion is expected to increase the airport's capacity significantly, with the number of passengers nearly doubling to 78 million and the number of flights rising to 386,000 per year by the time it is fully operational. The airport's chief executive, Stewart Wingate, has emphasised the economic benefits of the plan, stating that it could generate an additional £1 billion in GDP for the economy each year and create 14,000 jobs in the region.

The plan also includes other developments, such as the expansion of terminal buildings, a new pier, amendments to aircraft stands, new office space and hotel rooms, additional car parking spaces, and road improvement works.

However, the proposal has faced opposition from local residents and environmental campaigners, who have raised concerns about the impact on noise levels, house values, and the planet. The campaign group Communities Against Gatwick Noise and Emissions (CAGNE) has been particularly vocal in its opposition, stating that the expansion would be devastating for the local community and detrimental to the environment.

The plan underwent a six-month public examination, which ended in November 2024, and a recommendation was submitted to the government. A decision from ministers is expected in the first half of 2025. If approved, construction could start as early as 2025, with the new runway being operational by the end of the decade.

Gatwick is the world's busiest single-runway airport

Gatwick Airport, located about 30 miles south of London, is the busiest single-runway airport in the world. While it does have two runways, the proximity between them means that they cannot be used at the same time. The main runway is 3,316 metres long and handles most of the airport's operations. The northern runway is shorter at 2,565 metres and is currently used as a taxiway or when the main runway is out of action.

Gatwick's status as the world's busiest single-runway airport is set to change, however. The airport has proposed developing its northern runway into a fully operational departure runway alongside the existing main runway. This would allow for a significant increase in the number of passengers served by the airport. The plan, known as the Northern Runway Project, involves moving the centreline of the northern runway 12 metres north to allow greater clearance from the main runway.

The proposal has faced opposition from environmental groups, who argue that the expansion would negatively impact the well-being of residents, as well as the planet. Despite this, Gatwick's management remains optimistic that the government will approve the plan, citing its strong economic credentials and alignment with the government's growth agenda.

Gatwick has a long history, dating back to the 13th century when the land was owned by the Gatwick family. It opened as an aerodrome in the 1930s and has since grown to become one of the UK's largest and busiest airports, serving over 40 million passengers annually.

The airport's two runways can't be used simultaneously

Gatwick Airport has two runways, but they cannot be used simultaneously due to their proximity. The main runway is 3,316 metres long and 45 metres wide, and the airport is the busiest single-runway airport in Europe.

The northern runway is currently used as a taxiway or when the main runway is out of use. Gatwick Airport is proposing to develop its northern runway into a fully operational departure runway. The airport intends to move the centre line of the northern runway 12 metres north to allow for greater clearance from the main runway. This would allow dual operations of both runways, with all arriving flights using the existing main runway, and departing flights shared between the two runways.

The northern runway will have limitations due to its shorter length of 2,565 metres. It will accommodate aircraft up to the size of an Airbus A320 or Boeing 737 and will only handle departures. The addition of the northern runway as a fully operational departure runway will significantly increase the number of passengers the airport serves, with a projected increase to 75.6 million passengers by 2038.

The proposal for the second runway has sparked opposition from environmental groups, who argue that the expansion will negatively impact the well-being and house values of residents and contribute to the climate crisis. Despite these concerns, others believe that the expansion has strong economic credentials and will generate additional GDP for the UK economy. The decision to approve the second runway lies with the government, with a recommendation from planning inspectors expected in the first half of the year.

Gatwick's main runway is 3,316m long

Gatwick Airport has two runways, but they cannot be used simultaneously due to their proximity. The main runway is 3,316m long and 45m wide. It is one of the busiest single-runway airports in the world.

The main runway at Gatwick Airport is quite long at 3,316m. This length allows a large number of aircraft movements per hour. In 2019, the single runway handled a total of 283,000 movements, with a capacity of up to 55 movements per hour. The length of the runway is also important for safety reasons, as a longer runway allows for longer takeoff and landing distances, which can be crucial in certain situations.

The runway's length of 3,316m is also advantageous for accommodating larger aircraft. While the proposed second runway will have limitations due to its shorter length, the main runway can handle larger planes such as the Airbus A380, the world's largest passenger aircraft. Emirates started the first scheduled A380 service at Gatwick in 2012.

The length of the main runway has been achieved through extensions over the years. In 1998, the runway was extended to its current length of 3,316m. This extension added valuable length to the runway, increasing the airport's capacity and flexibility in handling various aircraft types.

The 3,316m length of Gatwick's main runway is a significant factor in the airport's operations and capabilities. It allows for a high volume of aircraft movements, accommodates larger aircraft, and provides safety benefits. The runway's length has been carefully considered and extended over time to meet the demands of modern aviation and maintain Gatwick Airport's position as one of the world's busiest and most efficient single-runway airports.

The airport has two terminals, North and South

Gatwick Airport has two terminals, North and South, which both have 31 stands each, with an additional 57 remote stands that are served by coaches. The ability to use a stand flexibly means that the airport can park up to 186 planes. The airport also has a total of 245 check-in desks, 123 self-service check-in desks, and 119 self-service bag drop kiosks.

The North Terminal was completed in 1988, with the Queen officially opening it. The terminal was built at a cost of £200 million, with an international departure lounge that was extended in 2001 at a cost of £35 million. This extension offered passengers extra seating and a wider range of shops and catering facilities. In 2011, the North Terminal was extended again, this time opened by former Prime Minister, Sir John Major.

The South Terminal has also undergone changes over the years, with a new £29.5 million extension to the international departure lounge opening in 2000, providing increased seating capacity, and new shops and restaurants. In 2020, the South Terminal was closed for 18 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, only reopening in 2022.

The airport's two terminals are served by a dedicated railway station, with trains reaching central London in just 30 minutes and running every three to four minutes. This rail link means that 15 million people can access Gatwick Airport by road or rail within 60 minutes.

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