Transport Secretary approves second Gatwick runway
Airport bosses reckon additional flights could take off by 2029
Last updated 21st Sep 2025
The Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has given Gatwick Airport's second runway the go-ahead.
Gatwick is already the second busiest airport in the UK - and the busiest single runway airport in Europe.
The northern runway at the site in West Sussex already exists parallel to the main runway, however it is unable to be used at the same time because they are too close together.
Gatwick's northern runway is limited to being a taxiway - and is only used for take-offs and landings if the main one is closed.
A proposed expansion project worth £2.2 billion would see it move 12 metres further away to solve the problem.
Officials say that change would end up facilitating 100,000 extra flights a year and create 14,000 jobs.
Airport bosses reckon we could see the new flights take off from the second runway by 2029.
They've also said no public money is being used to pay for the expansion.