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Travel experts hail Gatwick second runway decision: "Tourism is central to UK's economic recovery"

ended 25. September 2025

TRAVEL experts have heralded the decision to confirm a second runway at Gatwick – as Heathrow is also expected to secure an enormous windfall to expand.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander approved plans earlier this week for Gatwick's £2.2 billion second runway repositioning that could double capacity to 80 million passengers annually.

Gatwick currently handles about 280,000 flights a year –  the plan would allow that number to rise to around 389,000 by the late 2030s.

Meanwhile, Heathrow's ambitious £49 billion privately-financed expansion programme aims to grow from 84 million to 150 million passengers by 2040 - increasing annual flights from 480,000 to 756,000.

Though Heathrow's plan faces opposition and a possible legal challenge from London Mayor Sadiq Khan and green campaigners.

Steve Witt, Co-founder at Not Just Travel, hailed the investment.

He said: "Over potential £50 billion investment in Gatwick and Heathrow represents the most significant boost to UK aviation in a generation – welcome news for both consumers and the travel industry. Gatwick's £2.2 billion investment will reposition their second runway, potentially doubling capacity to 80 million passengers annually with 190 additional daily flights. 

"UK consumers will benefit from more destinations, departure times, and better value through increased competition. Meanwhile, Heathrow's proposed £49 billion expansion – including £21 billion for runway infrastructure and £12 billion for terminals, including the new T5X – would increase capacity from 84 million to 150 million passengers by 2040. 

"The Government has indicated its support for Heathrow’s expansion plan. With both schemes privately financed, the investment demonstrates real industry confidence in UK travel demand. Britain is indeed levelling up its connectivity with the world."

Kate Allen, Owner at Kingsbridge-based Finest Stays, said tourism will increase to the UK as a result.

She added: "This scale of aviation investment promises a powerful boost to inbound tourism, opening the UK to millions more international visitors each year. 

"An uplift in passenger capacity will cascade through the visitor economy, fuelling demand for hotels, restaurants, attractions and local services. Britain is signalling that tourism is central to economic recovery and long-term prosperity."

Rhys Jones, Aviation Editor at Head for Points, pointed out that plans for Heathrow will take many years to come to fruition.

He added: "The key benefit with Gatwick's plans is that it will be able to deliver its runway expansion much quicker, with completion as soon as the next parliament, whilst Heathrow's third runway plans will take many more years when or if it ever happens. 

"What is clear, however, is that airlines prefer operating from Heathrow if they can, with many full-service carriers only resorting to flights from Gatwick when they cannot get slots from Heathrow. 

“Why? It is clear that both passengers and airlines value the network effects that Heathrow offers, with thousands of flight connections available through short and long haul airlines that simply aren't on offer from Gatwick, where the majority of flights are operated by low cost carriers as point-to-point operations.”

4 responses from the Newspage community

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Editor
Steve Witt
Co-founder at Not Just Travel
Over potential £50 billion investment in Gatwick and Heathrow represents the most significant boost to UK aviation in a generation – welcome news for both consumers and the travel industry.

Gatwick's £2.2 billion investment will reposition their second runway, potentially doubling capacity to 80 million passengers annually with 190 additional daily flights.

UK consumers will benefit from more destinations, departure times, and better value through increased competition.

Meanwhile, Heathrow's proposed £49 billion expansion – including £21 billion for runway infrastructure and £12 billion for terminals, including the new T5X – would increase capacity from 84 million to 150 million passengers by 2040. The Government has indicated its support for Heathrow’s expansion plan.

With both schemes privately financed, the investment demonstrates real industry confidence in UK travel demand.

Britain is indeed levelling up its connectivity with the world.
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Editor
Kate Allen
Owner at Finest Stays
This scale of aviation investment promises a powerful boost to inbound tourism, opening the UK to millions more international visitors each year. An uplift in passenger capacity will cascade through the visitor economy, fuelling demand for hotels, restaurants, attractions and local services. Britain is signalling that tourism is central to economic recovery and long-term prosperity.
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David Belle
Founder and Trader at Fink Money
The biggest aviation boom is in fact from Trump's zero tariffs on Rolls Royce jet engines.

In my view, that is a serious support for a dominant British business globally, something we don't really have anymore.

Disregarding this though, the infrastructure boost is good - however we must also look at who owns said airports.

Gatwick is majority owned by VINCI, a French firm, with the rest owned by GIP Partners, a US investment firm whose investors are Qatari, Abu Dhabi based, Canadian and Aussie pension funds.

Heathrow is owned by the French (Ardian), Qatar (QIA), Saudi (PIF), Sinagapore (GIC), Australia (ART) and China (CIC).

It's another example of foreign nations benefitting from British infrastructure and shouldn't be understated.

France, Germany and China have their airports state owned while the US has strict rules on the amount of foreign ownership of their airports.

We are a standout in this remit and well above the OECD average of foreign infrastructure ownership
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Rob Burgess
Founder and Editor at Head for Points
The key benefit with Gatwick's plans is that it will be able to deliver its runway expansion much quicker, with completion as soon as the next parliament, whilst Heathrow's third runway plans will take many more years when or if it ever happens.

What is clear, however, is that airlines prefer operating from Heathrow if they can, with many full-service carriers only resorting to flights from Gatwick when they cannot get slots from Heathrow.

Why?

It is clear that both passengers and airlines value the network effects that Heathrow offers, with thousands of flight connections available through short and long haul airlines that simply aren't on offer from Gatwick, where the majority of flights are operated by low cost carriers as point-to-point operations.