The volume of cargo handled by Gatwick is forecast to increase to around 350,000 tonnes per year by the middle of the century (2047) - up from 150,000 tonnes in 2019/20 - if the airport's plan to bring its Northern Runway into routine use is realised.
Cargo volumes would increase to over 200,000 tonnes as the Northern Runway potentially enters service in 2029, growing steadily to over 320,000 tonnes by 2038, before hitting 350,000 by around 2047.
The increase in cargo is primarily driven by the expected growth in long-haul connectivity offered by the additional runway, with widebody aircraft to destinations in Asia and the Middle East seen as providing significant growth in cargo in the years ahead.
Gatwick's existing cargo facility occupies an area of approximately 10 hectares, including 23,000m2 of cargo sheds, and will be able to accommodate the increase in cargo that the Northern Runway project is forecast to generate.
Gatwick has started a public consultation on plans to bring its existing Northern Runway into routine use alongside its Main Runway. Full consultation materials are available on the www.gatwickairport.com/futureplans web pages along with a virtual exhibition and an option to book a telephone surgery with project experts or to request a virtual briefing for local stakeholder groups.
Jonathan Pollard, Chief Commercial Officer, Gatwick Airport, said: 'If we realise our plans and the Northern Runway is brought into routine use it will bring significant benefits for the local area, including new jobs and opportunities for business. I would encourage anyone who wants to see these benefits delivered to let us know what they think by responding to our public consultation before it closes on the 1 December this year.'
Dee Mathieson, Managing Director, Elekta Ltd - a Crawley-based company that makes medical devices - said: 'Around 90% of the vital spare parts that go into ensuring the maintenance and repair of our customers' medical devices is by air transport. It would really help our business by being quicker and more efficient if we were more able to transit these parts through Gatwick, so we would welcome greater capacity and improved facilities for air freight at airport.'
Janette Deakins, Sales Manager, Transvalair - a Gatwick-based freight-forwarding company - said: 'With the Northern Runway increasing freight capacity of Gatwick through the return of more long-haul flights, we can see some real benefits for our clients. Turnaround times will be faster, and we can avoid having to use lorries to transport freight to other airports, which will help deliver environmental benefits.'
Nick Broom, CEO of PVL, which exports products across the world, supplying emergency service vehicle fleets, said: 'Whilst our freight handlers will decide the optimum route for our products to reach our clients, we have very little influence over that route. However, we would welcome greater freight capacity at Gatwick as it is our local airport, and anything that can improve transit time and cost will also help the business to reduce our carbon footprint.'
About Gatwick Airport
Gatwick is the UK's second largest airport and flies a range of both short and long-haul point-to-point services. The airport is a vital piece of the UK's national infrastructure and is also a major driver for both the regional and national economies. In 2019, a new long-term partnership was formed with VINCI Airports which purchased a 50.01% stake in the airport.
About VINCI Airports
VINCI Airports, the world's leading airport operator, manages 45 airports in 12 countries in Europe, Asia and on the American continent. Though its expertise as a comprehensive integrator, VINCI Airports develops, finances, builds and operates airports, leveraging its investment capacity, international network and know-how to optimise operational performance, modernise airports and manage their environmental transition. In 2016, VINCI Airports was the first airport operator to commit to an international environmental strategy aimed at achieving net zero emissions over its entire network looking to 2050. All information available on www.vinci-airports.com
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About Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP)
GIP manages the remaining 49.99% interest in Gatwick, is an independent infrastructure investor that makes equity investments in high quality infrastructure assets in the energy, transport and water/waste sectors. GIP has US$68 billion of Assets under Management. Its 41 portfolio companies operate in over 51 countries with more than 67,000 employees and generate annual revenues of circa US$51 billion. For more information on GIP please visit http://global-infra.com
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