Gatwick Airport's expansion plan involves putting its emergency runway into routine use.
Here the Press Association answers 14 key questions about the project.
– How many runways does Gatwick have?
It has a conventional track and a reserve track.
– What is the reserve track used for?
It is primarily used for taxiing planes to and from terminals, but is also used when the main runway is closed for emergencies or maintenance.
– Why does Gatwick want to expand?
It is the second busiest airport in the United Kingdom and one of the busiest single runway airports in the world.
Free spaces at peak times are scarce and the runway is heavily used, meaning the disruption can have a serious knock-on effect.
– What must happen to the reserve runway for it to enter routine use?
It must move 12 meters north, away from the main runway, to comply with strict air safety regulations.
– What else does the plan involve?
Remodeling and replacing existing taxiways that connect runways with terminals, hangars and other facilities, expanding both terminals and installing new boarding gates.
– How about transportation?
Gatwick says it would pay to improve road links to both terminals, creating flyovers separating local traffic from vehicles traveling to or from the airport.
A £250 million upgrade to the airport train station was completed in November 2023.
– What would the reserve track be used for?
Departures of narrow-body aircraft such as Airbus A320 and Boeing 737.
– What impact would that have on Gatwick's flight capacity?
It would allow the airport to be used for about 386,000 flights a year, about 100,000 more than current levels.
– How about the annual number of passengers?
They could rise from about 43 million to 75 million by the late 2030s.
– How much will the project cost?
Gatwick says the plan will cost £2.2bn.
– Who will pay for it?
The airport says the project will be privately funded. It has agreed to cover the cost without increasing charges to airlines.
– When could the new runway open?
Flights are expected to take off from the completed new runway before 2029.
– Who owns Gatwick Airport?
The French company Vinci and the investment fund Global Infrastructure Partners.
– Does the proposal for Heathrow's third runway affect Gatwick?
The Government has expressed its support for Heathrow's expansion plan.
But it is likely to be many years before construction begins on a third runway at west London airport and Gatwick is determined to increase its own capacity before that happens.
