It has been a period of great change for Gatwick Airport. The sale of the airport by BAA to Global Infrastructure Partners was a significant event and it is reassuring to see that such sales are possible in today’s economic climate. While the price was lower than originally expected, it was still a large-scale transaction.
In the same week alongside the sale,CrawleyCouncil’s Development Control Committee decided that it would support the extension of the North Terminal. This action received less publicity than the sale and the actual decision will probably be reserved to the Secretary of State. Gatwick andCrawleyhad a red-letter week.
The extension of the North Terminal will enable a better balancing of people between the two terminals so that each could handle some 20 million passengers. More generally, the overall passenger experience will be enhanced so that even higher standards can be reached with efficiency of departure, arrival, check-in and security processes. In theory, this affords an alternative and complementary expansion option to one which is purely volume based. By becoming even more of a centre of excellence for passengers, Gatwick can perhaps attract a greater proportion of business traffic.
A new owner for Gatwick inevitably generates some uncertainty and we wish the workforce well as they adapt to this period of dynamic change. Inevitably some debate will also re-open around a second runway. This is partlyinformed by the Conservatives’ declaration that they might include an election manifesto pledge not to allow additional runways at Gatwick, Heathrow or Stansted.
CrawleyCouncil supports the expansion to some 40-45 million passengers per annum on a two-terminal, single runway operation. I believe that this margin does allow for useful growth in passengers and revenues, with the latter being significantly impacted by the mix of traffic. We all know the environmental arguments surrounding airport expansion and the case for demand management, which we already practice with motor vehicles.
I am particularly keen on demand management and a pricing structure that does not make air travel cheaper at face value than a day trip by train intoLondon. My own first flight was from Gatwick toMilanin 1981. That was £52 one-way with a ticket bought from a bucket shop inLondon. It seemed very competitive and relatively cheap at the time but what would or should it be in real terms today?
In 1958, Gatwick was opened as the first airport with an integrated railway station. Whatever the new owner’s plans for the future, I hope that we can collectively influence the improvement of the railway station. This is a gateway of huge importance toBritain, not least for the 2012 Olympics. It is something that we really must get right.
Councillor Bob Lanzer, Leader of Crawley Borough Council
28th October 2009