Third runway for Heathrow and maybe second for Gatwick

[Darren Wheeler]

It's being reported that The Airport Commission has recommended that a 3rd runway be built at Heathrow, but also doesn't rule out a 2nd at Gatwick.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-33340565

I was following this story on news this morning, must admit they did not mention anything about Gatwick on GMTV news, everything was only about Heathrow......... It does make you wonder if this has something to do with job cuts and profits going down at VA, considering Gatwick is their home

On a more personal note, living close to Newcastle "international" airport, flights to Gatwick are now not available and aren't going to be for the foreseeable future, so all long haul has to be done through Heathrow for us, if you want to avoid a horrible commute between airports........Such a shame as we like Gatwick......

[Pete]

Gatwick is probably the easiest airport for me to get to from home, but realistically it's Heathrow that needs expansion in an either/or decision.

There's a reason LHR is at capacity and slots exchange hands for millions, it's because that's where the connections already are. Adding another runway at Gatwick will be useful to increase the holiday & LCC traffic, but the addition of a second runway at Gatwick won't automatically mean all those other connecting routes will move from Heathrow. Gatwick is also a pig to get to from anywhere other than South London or Brighton. That's also the reason Boris Island is a poor idea - an airport on the east side of the city when all the businesses are in the M4 corridor?

Personally I think BOTH Heathrow and Gatwick need expansion, but if it comes down to one or the other, then Heathrow is the sensible option based on flight connections and location for business.

Pete

[Darren Wheeler]

Of course this is just the report on what is the most preferable.

We'll now have years of political hand-wringing and ball passing, planning, public enquiries, court cases, EU enquiries long before the large white X is removed from the runway.

Don't know why everybody is so negative about the proposal?
I'm already looking forward to watching the first flight take off on the new runway, this will of course be from my chair in the corner of some old folks home!

The only thing I'm sad about is the news that T3 is set to be demolished by 2019.. presumably along with the CH! :(

The only thing I'm sad about is the news that T3 is set to be demolished by 2019.. presumably along with the CH! :(

I just can't see that happening. LHR is investing £ in improving T3, not the actions of an organisation which is about to bulldoze it.

Long term plan is to demolish T3, but T1 won't be demolished for a while yet.

[Darren Wheeler]

The only thing I'm sad about is the news that T3 is set to be demolished by 2019.. presumably along with the CH! :(

I just can't see that happening. LHR is investing £ in improving T3, not the actions of an organisation which is about to bulldoze it.

The story ITV are running says otherwise.
http://www.itv.com/news/london/2015-05- ... ext-month/

Personally I think BOTH Heathrow and Gatwick need expansion, but if it comes down to one or the other, then Heathrow is the sensible option based on flight connections and location for business.

Agreed. LGW has limited capacity at peak-times already, so if it's not needed all day like it clearly is at LHR then at least it's there for the future and LGW can grow without constraint.

MAN had the foresight to build its second runway 15 years ago. It only gets used in the morning peaks and early/mid-afternoon, but the capacity is there. If they ever get round to building a full-length taxiway along the second runway it'll be even more useful and crate even more capacity - something MAN will be able to accommodate in the coming years after the recent announcement of a comprehensive re-development of all of the terminal facilities.

I just can't see that happening. LHR is investing £ in improving T3, not the actions of an organisation which is about to bulldoze it.

It's happening, but won't be for another few years yet as they still need to expand T2 further first.

To be honest, after sampling T2 back in March whilst taking Little Red up to MAN, I'm of the belief that it's a fantastic terminal and I think it's a terminal VS should try and operate out from. Maybe that will happen in a few years time unless they move over to T4 instead.

so.. more for London.

Rather than Gatwick, maybe they should invest in the East - Stansted or Luton, maybe even Southend... or improve links from both into Central London for faster transfer times. Either airports can happily cater & support the M1
Leave Hethrow for the M4/M40/M3 & Gatwick can cater for M23/M20. As said Gatwick is a PITA to get to for the majority of people.

We are quite isolated in Wales for example - our airport is rubbish - we have hardly any routes (well we do link to Schiphol for connections ). At least people in West & North Wales has easy option for ex-dub tricks.

I worry that a 3rd runway will just cement the dominance that BA hold at LHR - they have their own terminal and perhaps now their own runway.

What amazes me is that after this commission was set up in 2012 it will take another 'decade' to have this built. That's 13 years before we even get into the actual battles once they start to build this.

Honestly, someone needs to get a real handle on this - look at Turkey for example. Their new airport will be the biggest in the world (not sure if needed) and take 4 years to build. The cost will be circa $7 Billion - however one runway will cost us a reported £18 Billion..!

[Darren Wheeler]

Does Turkey have compulsory purchasing or is it a case of "we want your land to build on, you have a week to get out!"?

Does Turkey have compulsory purchasing or is it a case of "we want your land to build on, you have a week to get out!"?

I have no idea, but I would guess that they have to offer a new home or money if they are doing that - but as I say, im not too sure!

Either way, I still cant see why this will take us 15 years to do when it takes them 4 to build a totally new airport...

If they do build a second runway at LGW then they also need to think what they will do about the roads that serve it too.