Gatwick second runway plan approved by transport secretary

"thousands of jobs and billions in investment"

"disaster"

"get Britain building again"

"it is possible that planes could be taking off from a new full runway at Gatwick before the next general election."

Transport Secretary approved a privately financed £2.2bn plan to bring Gatwick's Northern Runway into regular use by moving it 12 metres and extending terminals. The plan would add 40,000 flights before the second runway opens and 70,000 more once fully operational, increasing annual flights from about 280,000 to around 389,000 by the late 2030s. Passenger numbers could rise from over 40 million to as many as 80 million. The second runway would handle short-haul flights and free capacity on the main runway for more long-haul services. The government projects thousands of jobs and billions in investment. The plan faces opposition and planning inspectors expressed concerns over the effect of the expansion; a government source suggested operations could start before the next general election.

Read at www.bbc.com