For the November Edition of our Croydon News, The Develop Croydon (DC) team interviewed London Gatwick, our partner, to learn more about their northern runway plans and how it will impact local businesses in Croydon, as well as other plans for the Airport’s growth. Economic Partnerships Manager at Gatwick Airport, Richard Lennard, shares his thoughts below:
DC: It has been a busy time for Gatwick! Please tell us where you have reached with your application for the Northern Runway.
R: Bringing our Northern Runway into routine use is a £1 billion a year opportunity for the local economy and will create 14,000 new jobs. In August, our application was accepted for examination by the Planning Inspectorate. In the new year, we expect to move into the examination stage. This will involve a thorough evaluation of our proposals by a panel of independent experts who will also consider the views of all the interested people and organisations who live locally.
DC: Could you tell us the impact it could have on local businesses around the region including Croydon?
R: If our plans are given the green light, the range of economic opportunities for businesses in the South-East and Croydon will be significant. Local businesses will have the chance to participate in the procurement and construction phases of the Northern Runway Project. Additionally, the expected increase in passenger numbers will boost tourism, trade, and supply chain partnerships. The volume of cargo handled by London Gatwick alone is forecast to more than double by the middle of the century (2047) if the airport’s plans are realised. Inbound tourism would also increase by 61%, which would support an additional 28,000 jobs in the UK tourism sector.
DC: What are the challenges you are facing?
R: As with any large-scale infrastructure project, there will always be challenges as there are so many processes and moving parts to take into account. However, through extensive planning and coordination with our stakeholders, we have worked hard to propose a plan that minimises the impacts and maximises the positive outcomes for the region. London Gatwick is also fortunate to have a fantastic team of construction, engineering and sustainability experts to lead us through this complex and important project.
DC: Gatwick has restarted the graduate programme! Does Gatwick support/collaborate with any Croydon schools or colleges?
R: Absolutely, we are really proud of the out-reach education programme we offer at London Gatwick. We work with numerous schools and colleges not only in Croydon but across the entire South-East region. We aim to provide students with valuable opportunities to learn about the aviation industry and discover potential career paths at London Gatwick. In the last academic year, we reached over 70,000 student engagements we intend to make this figure 1 million by 2030.
DC: In your opinion, what makes a great airport?
R: In a nutshell, a great airport is one that prioritises safety, passenger experience, and efficiency, while also benefiting the community it serves. At London Gatwick we continuously strive to meet these criteria, whether it’s excellent transport links, clear signage, or advanced screening technologies – we try and think of everything and continually look for ways to improve.
DC: How are your terminal renovations going? What makes for a good passenger experience?
R: The North Terminal re-development is in full swing and is expected to be finished by early 2024. The multi-million-pound investment focuses on enhancing our shopping options, seating arrangements and accessibility. Our aim is to create an enjoyable and convenient journey for our passengers – taking into our account their specific needs. Ultimately, this is a key focus when it comes to delivering a good passenger experience.
DC: Many environmental activists have spoken about air travel not being ideal for the environment – how is Gatwick doing its best to address these concerns?
R: Sustainable growth and de-carbonising our operations is a top priority for London Gatwick. We are working closely with our airlines, industry stakeholders as well as environmental groups to drive innovation and deliver smarter airport operations. We have set out 10 broad sustainability goals we want to achieve under our ‘Decade of Change’ Policy – including the ambitious target of becoming a net zero airport for Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030.
DC: You have added many new routes recently – India, Saudi Arabia, etc – has demand for travel gone up more since the pre-pandemic levels?
R: We have made a strong recovery since the pandemic. While our passenger numbers haven’t quite returned to pre-Covid levels yet, we have seen a noticeable increase in travel demand in the last 18 months. In response, we have added a number of new routes, including to key markets across the USA, India, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, and China, as well as many short-haul destinations. The variety of carriers now operating at London Gatwick reflect the ongoing high demand for slots at our airport.
DC: There is a push towards international business collaborations and becoming a more well-connected city globally – exports – how is Gatwick supporting this national goal?
R: London Gatwick already plays a vital role in supporting the regional economy and UK PLC by connecting key international markets. We facilitate inbound and outbound trade and travel to a wide range of destinations around the world, with more than 50 long-haul routes currently available. If our Northern Runway plans are approved, we will be able to support even more long-haul routes to key trade markets, especially across the USA and Asia, providing businesses with greater access and the opportunity to establish valuable global partnerships.
DC: What trends are you seeing in your industry? What are your thoughts on the future of aviation and how can Gatwick position itself to be a leader in the industry?
R: The future of aviation holds exciting prospects, with advancements in sustainable practices and the emergence of new, sophisticated technologies. London Gatwick is determined to position itself as a leader in the industry, by fully embracing these trends and making strategic investments. We recently announced we will accelerate plans and will become net zero for our carbon emissions by 2030 – 10 years ahead of our previous commitment. We will do this by investing more than £250m in replacing vehicles, gas boilers and refrigerants with low-carbon alternatives, by reducing overall energy use, and by investing in on-site renewable energy, including solar power, and continuing to source 100% renewable electricity.