Expanding Gatwick with a second runway has emerged as a potential alternative to building a third runway at Heathrow.
A confidential memo from BAA, owner of both airports, reportedly suggests that capacity at Gatwick could be raised from 45 million passengers a year to 80 million. This compares to the 67 million that used Heathrow last year.
The Times reported that the memo to potential bidders to take over Gatwick shows where a new runway would be positioned, a kilometre south of the existing one.
Details of the memo emerged as the Competition Commission questioned government policy over expansion of Heathrow and Stansted instead of Gatwick. It called for BAA to dispose of Stansted and Edinburgh airports in addition to Gatwick, which has already been put up for sale (see previous TravelMole story).
A binding agreement signed with West Sussex County Council in 1979 prevents expansion of Gatwick until 2019.
But this could still allow for construction to begin on a second runway ready to become operational with the first phase of a new terminal by 2023 or early 2024.
It is reported that the environmental impact of expansion at Gatwick would be less than at Heathrow.
by Phil Davies
