Gatwick Airport renews push for second runway: Telegraph

[Telegraph]  Gatwick Airport will resurrect proposals for a second runway this summer as it ramps up efforts to become London’s main gateway to booming economies in Asia.

GIP will publish a “master plan” next month setting out what the airport will look like in eight years’ time.

Details of the airport’s plans have emerged as its chief executive, Stewart Wingate, blamed rival Heathrow for giving foreign airlines a false impression that London was “closed for business”.

Gatwick, which has been owned by Global Infrastructure Partners since 2009, will publish a “master plan” next month setting out what the airport will look like in eight years’ time.

The airport’s bosses will also float two scenarios for how it could develop after 2020 – including the case for a two-runway airport.

In an interview with The Sunday Telegraph, Mr Wingate said a second runway at Gatwick or Stansted would be less problematic – and costly – than either a new airport in the Thames Estuary or expansion at Heathrow.

The costs of building “Boris Island” seemed “prohibitively expensive”, he said, while a third Heathrow runway could cost in the region of £10bn-£15bn.

More people would be affected by the noise created by an enlarged Heathrow than at Gatwick or Stansted, the former BAA director added.

“There’s a noise contour which says that in and around Heathrow there’s about a quarter of a million people that live very close to…….

Read the full story at The Telegraph…..

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By Nathalie Thomas
9:30PM BST 23 Jun 2012

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Boris Johnson backs new runway at Stansted: Telegraph

[Telegraph] Boris Johnson has called for a second runway to be built at Stansted as the gulf between the London Mayor and David Cameron widened on aviation.

”Boris thinks it is time that we looked at all the options around London because the Heathrow option is politically undeliverable”. Photo: Wikikpedia

Mr Johnson rounded on the Prime Minister and the Coalition which has refused to consider expanding Heathrow as well as vetoing proposals for new runways at Gatwick and Stansted.

Having earlier pushed for the building of a new airport in the Thames Estuary, Mr Johnson called for a second runway at Stansted to be built as a short term fix.

He also said that £14.8 billion Crossrail scheme, which will link the City to Heathrow, should be extended to Stansted.

“It would be a good interim solution,” he said. “A lot of money is now moving on to Stansted and the possibility of a high-speed rail link up there. You could be just as fast, if not faster, than at Heathrow.

”I think it is time that we looked at all the options around London because the Heathrow option is politically undeliverable and would be an environmental disaster.

Read the full story at The Telegraph…….

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By David Millward
6:12PM BST 18 Jun 2012

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EasyJet chief urges Government to look at 2nd runway at Gatwick or Stansted airports

[Telegraph] Ministers must press ahead with an inquiry into a second runway at Gatwick or Stansted after last week slamming the door on Heathrow expansion, according to easyJet boss Carolyn McCall.

Carolyn McCall said a second runway at either Gatwick or Stansted made the ‘most economic sense’ in the medium term to solve the serious capacity problems in the South East Photo: Alamy

The head of the UK’s largest airline by passenger numbers has weighed into the fierce debate on aviation policy after Transport Secretary Theresa Villiers last week scuppered hopes that the Government might be moderating its stance on allowing a third runway at Heathrow – Britain’s only hub airport.

Ms McCall told the Telegraph it was “striking” how other European governments supported their airports while the UK was stuck in a “circular” debate about aviation capacity.

“In Europe there is a stark contrast…there is no debate. In Amsterdam, the Government and airport is completely aligned about developing Schipol. In [Milan] Malpensa, they are continuing to grow. No one is debating ‘should there be more capacity and should we have another runway?’ There’s just a real focus on the fact that air passengers bring money into the economy and   they are really important for growth.”

Speaking in Lisbon, where easyJet has launched its latest network base, Ms McCall said a second runway at either Gatwick or Stansted made the “most economic sense” in the medium term to solve the serious capacity problems in the South East.

“Theresa Villiers has closed the door to Heathrow again, which…..

Read the full story at The Telegraph…..

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By Nathalie Thomas, in Lisbon
4:39PM BST 24 Apr 2012

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• Gatwick better under new owner, says ex-BAA chief (independent.co.uk)
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