Gatwick Airport chiefs have called for a quick and decisive decision on airport expansion following its annual reports.
Gatwick’s pre-tax profits jumped 77% to £141m in the year to March and Stewart Wingate, Gatwick’s chief executive, said turnover was up 5% to £673.1m after their busiest year in history, reports The BBC.
Gatwick have been going head-to-head with Heathrow over airport expansion but these results have put Gatwick in the driving seat, according to Mr Wingate. The chief executive said “it has become ever more clear that only Gatwick can deliver a new runway for Britain and the growth the economy needs.”
Gatwick set a new world record for aircraft movements and passenger numbers for a single-runway airport last year. Gatwick said more than 2.1m more passengers had entered their terminals in the past year, bringing in a total of 40.8m. This growth only adds fuel to the fire for an expansion on runways and Gatwick Airport Parking.
Pressure on PM
Following Brexit, David Cameron has decided to delay the decision on whether to expand Heathrow or Gatwick airport until a new Conservative leader is elected. Manufacturing trade body EEF has excused the prime minister of putting party politics ahead of the nation .
The PM was expected to confirm which project would get the green light in the coming weeks had the UK voted to remain in the EU. However, the delayed decision has failed to show the world that Britain is “open for business” regardless of Brexit chaos, said EEF chief executive Terry Scuoler.
In a statement from Mr Scuoler, it said “at a time when business needs confidence it is extremely frustrating that internal party politics prevents a key infrastructure decision being taken.
An easy decision
Following the economic turmoil of Brexit, Stewart Wingate has called the more costly Heathrow option “dead” and claims “for the government it should become an easier decision.”
Mr Wingate has joined the cries for a swift decision but said the disorder inside the Conservative Party will only bolster Gatwick’s case because leadership front runners Boris Johnson and Theresa May both favour Gatwick Airport Parking and Runway expansion over Heathrow.
Mr Wingate expects a decision to be made by October, when a new government will be in place, and believes a decision then means they could “commit to getting spades in the ground by 2020 and accelerate delivery to 2025.”