Connected London
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Cleared for take-off
The government has won a legal challenge in a decision that will enable Gatwick Airport to open a second
Luton on the rise
runway. First flights from the new strip – which involves moving an emergency runway – should take place in 2030. Around 100,000 more flights a year are anticipated.
Capacity
A leader in The Times, headlined Cleared for take-off, hailed the decision as“ good news indeed” and predicted that the British economy would benefit immensely. It pointed out that all economic surveys agreed that the UK, especially London, needed more airport capacity if it was not to lose out to mainland European airports.
Vital
LCCI chief executive Karim Fatehi OBE welcomed the decision which, he said, provided“ certainty for a nationally significant infrastructure project, clearing the way for vital investment which will strengthen London ' s future and the UK ' s economic future.
Gateway
“ For London ' s business community, better international connections are fundamental to attracting investment, supporting trade, enabling tourism, and maintaining our position as one of the world ' s leading global business centres, and the international gateway to the UK. London Gatwick ' s Northern Runway Project will create thousands of jobs and deliver substantial economic benefits for the capital and the wider UK economy, funded through private investment at no cost to the taxpayer.”
www. gatwickairport. com
More good news on the aviation front as London Luton Airport’ s growth plan has been given the green light.
Phased expansion at the airport will see up to 60 per cent more capacity( 19 million passengers increasing to 32 million) by mid-2040s – underpinned by a pioneering‘ green controlled growth’ framework.
Investment
Airport owner Luton Rising pledges that every growth passenger will unlock additional investment to improve lives and drive opportunities. Forecasts include the creation of
11.000 new jobs and the generation of an additional £ 1.5 billion in annual economic activity.
Paul Kehoe, chair of Luton Rising, said that the green light was a landmark moment“ not just for Luton, but also for how the UK thinks about publiclyowned infrastructure delivering for communities and the country.”
www. lutonrising. org. uk