Gatwick second runway can proceed after legal challenge is dismissed

Gatwick Airport's Northern Runway can be brought into full use after the Court of Appeal dismissed a legal challenge to the expansion project, the UK Government has said.

The Department for Transport says the first flights using the extended runway are expected from 2030. It says the project could add up to 100,000 flights a year and carry around 13 million additional passengers.

The government says the added capacity is intended to increase destination choice and airline competition. It has not set out which routes or fares would follow from the project.

Its announcement says the scheme is expected to create 14,000 jobs across the South East and deliver an additional £1 billion in economic benefits each year through Gatwick's national supply chain.

Any airport expansion, including Gatwick's, must meet conditions on air quality, carbon emissions and noise, according to the government. It also points to £219 million announced for sustainable aviation fuel production and £43 million for hydrogen-powered and electric flight.

What this means for Wales

The announcement makes no Wales-specific forecast. For travellers in Wales who use Gatwick, the practical question will be how airlines use the additional capacity once flights begin from 2030; the government has not identified particular new routes or fare changes.