London Gatwick Airport unveils new innovative and more sustainable plan in resurfacing its main runway

London, UK, 2022-Oct-07 — /Travel PR News/ — London Gatwick Airport, part of VINCI Airports’ network, has just completed (Sept 2022) an innovative plan to resurface its main runway in half the time and for half the cost – while saving significant amounts of embodied carbon1 by using 70% less asphalt – compared to traditional resurfacing methods.

The airport’s original plan to resurface its main runway in 2020 was halted by the pandemic.  COVID-19 however was a catalyst that saw London Gatwick Airport draw up new plans that have just delivered a much more sustainable solution for the minimum practical budget.

The rethink saw the airport break from traditional methods by resurfacing only the most ‘trafficked’ parts of its main runway – where aircraft land and exit – as other sections were shown to still have seven to ten years of expected life.

Again, shifting from traditional approaches – where sections of the old runway surface is replaced with two layers, laid over two nights – a resurfacing technique was developed that saw both layers laid in a single night – saving time.

Combined, this new approach saw 40,000 tonnes of asphalt laid – 100,000 tonnes less than normally used when resurfacing the airport’s main runway.  This meant the project could complete in just six months – half the normal time – and for 50% less cost than normal.

The reduction in asphalt allowed a significant saving of embodied carbon – which is the Green House Gas emissions associated with materials and construction throughout the life-cycle of the infrastructure – consistent with VINCI Airports’ environmental commitment.

All of the old asphalt material was recycled as aggregate in road construction, and a temporary on-site asphalt batching plant reduced lorry travel distance and emissions.

Alasdair Scobie, Capital Delivery Director, London Gatwick Airport, said: “The pandemic gave us the time and reason to rethink our original design. We think we have achieved the best balance possible between cost, operational constraints and durability, whilst reducing the environmental impact of construction. The cost savings can now also be reinvested in improvements across other parts of the airport. “

Fact file

• London Gatwick airport’s main runway is 3337m long, 44m wide, surface area 280,000m2 (1430 tennis courts) and is the busiest runway in the world with a current throughput of 55 movements per hour
• The main runway was built in stages from 1950’s
• This is the runway’s 5th rehabilitation of its lifetime
• The work was implemented during night shifts between 2130-0530

NOTES

1 embodied carbon is the Green House Gas emissions associated with construction and maintenance activities throughout the life-cycle of the infrastructure asset

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

The world’s leading private airport operator, VINCI Airports operates more than 50 airports in 11 countries in Europe, Asia and the Americas. Thanks to its expertise as a global integrator, VINCI Airports develops, finances, builds and manages airports by providing its investment capacity and its know-how in optimizing operational performance, modernizing infrastructures and managing their operations and environmental transition. VINCI Airports is the first airport operator to have committed to a global international environmental strategy in 2016, to achieve the goal of net zero emission across its entire network by 2050.

About Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP)

GIP manages the remaining 49.99% interest in Gatwick and is a leading independent infrastructure fund manager that makes equity and debt investments in high quality infrastructure assets in the energy, transport, water/waste and digital infrastructure sectors. GIP manages US$84 billion for its investors. Its 46 portfolio companies have combined annual revenues of US$61 billion and employ nearly 100,000 employees. For more information on GIP please visit http://global-infra.com

Media enquiries to:

GATWICK AIRPORT PRESS OFFICE
+ 44 (0) 1293 505000
gatwickmedia@gatwickairport.com

Main Gatwick switchboard:

+44 (0) 1293 50 7888

Source: Gatwick Airport

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