New poll reveals SME leaders across UK prefer Gatwick to be expanded

• Small businesses and SMEs from all around the UK want Gatwick expanded
• Institute of Directors says Gatwick “leads on regional destinations”
• OECD report: high charges from an expanded Heathrow would “discourage” more UK domestic flights

LONDON, 2015-3-5 — /Travel PR News/ — A new YouGov poll published today has shown small and medium sized business leaders up and down the country would prefer Gatwick to be expanded, with those running manufacturing and construction firms among the most supportive.

The results prove that Gatwick’s growth is supported by businesses in this crucial sector from all corners of the UK. Gatwick expansion is best for the UK and regions because it supports not only the growth of connectivity to London but also the growth and business development of other airports around the UK.

In the week that Heathrow’s connectivity taskforce is set to outline its findings, Gatwick has also announced that, with expansion, it will serve 15 domestic cities if it built a new runway – up from 10 today.  Gatwick already flies directly to more UK destinations than Heathrow whose domestic services have been progressively been cut back.

The increase in domestic destinations would see an expanded Gatwick fly a total of 18 million passengers to and from London – one million more than a three runway Heathrow.

Gatwick Airport CEO Stewart Wingate said: “An expanded Gatwick will deliver more competition and choice and, crucially, for businesses across the UK, it will have the dual benefit of better connectivity to London as well as a stronger network of airports around the country.

“A strong network of airports around the UK will provide cheaper airfares, more choice and better services for all travellers. A third runway at Heathrow, however, would restrict competition, reduce choice and connectivity, and restrict the growth of airports outside London.

“Expand Gatwick and the country gets two world-class gateways within a competitive network of airports and everyone will benefit from cheaper airfares through vigorous competition.”

Gatwick’s new domestic destinations may include Dundee, Isle of Man, Liverpool, Londonderry and Nottingham and are further evidence that expanding Gatwick would be the best option for improving connectivity around the UK – a point the Institute of Director’s recently made in its submission to the Airports Commission*.

In contrast to Gatwick’s new flights, a recent OECD report said that an expanded Heathrow’s charges would discourage more flights to other UK airports. The report also said a bigger Heathrow would also ‘diminish’ the chance of new long haul services flying directly out of other UK airports.

For these reasons many UK airports are concerned that the expansion of Heathrow would unravel the benefits of airport liberalisation – a move that saw BAA broken up and competition between UK airports introduced. Gatwick can also reveal today that passenger numbers at these airports are twice those at the smaller airports that support Heathrow – even after excluding passenger numbers at Gatwick.

Notes to Editors:

SME leaders running manufacturing and construction (40% vs 32%) firms were among the most supportive of the option to expand Gatwick when choosing between it or Heathrow.

*In its submission to the Airports Commission, the Institute of Directors noted that a second runway at Gatwick “leads on regional destinations”.

The OECD International Transport Forum, in its report Expanding Airport Capacity: Competition and Connectivity The case of Gatwick and Heathrow, stated that “the expected higher airport charges (resulting from the expansion of Heathrow) will discourage high frequency, low capacity feeder flights into Heathrow. The probability of new long-haul direct flights from UK regional airports will also diminish.”

For more information contact:

Gatwick Airport press office

t: + 44 (0) 1293 505000
e: gatwickmedia@gatwickairport.com

About London Gatwick
Gatwick Airport is the UK’s second largest airport and the most efficient single-runway airport in the world. It serves more than 200 destinations in 90 countries for around 38 million passengers a year on short and long-haul point-to-point services. It is also a major economic driver for the South-East region, generating around 21,000 on-airport jobs and a further 10,000 jobs through related activities. The airport is 28 miles south of London with excellent public transport links, including the Gatwick Express. Gatwick Airport is owned by a group of international investment funds, of which Global Infrastructure Partners is the largest shareholder.

In its December 2013 interim report, the Airports Commission included London Gatwick and Heathrow on its shortlist of potential locations for a new runway in the UK. Expansion at Gatwick will best meet the UK’s aviation needs for the future, can provide the greatest economic boost with the least environmental impact, and a new runway can be operational by 2025. For further information, see: www.gatwickobviously.com

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