Gatwick boss says Heathrow new runway would cost same as a new Gatwick runway and terminal

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The CEO of Gatwick Airport has said the costs of building a third runway at Heathrow were the same as building another Gatwick Airport runway and terminal.

British Airways (BA) opposed Heathrow expansion because of its ‘outrageous’ project costs, said Willie Walsh, the CEO of IAG, which owns BA.

Gatwick CEO Stewart Wingate said: “It is no surprise British Airways have come out today against expansion. For the huge costs of a third runway at Heathrow you could build Gatwick, have all the benefits and billions left to invest around the country.”

The Airports Commission has backed Heathrow for expansion instead of Gatwick. It published its recommendations in the Davies Report.

The Government is due to make its final decision later this year.

Mr Wingate added: “We also learnt today that - buried deep in the report - is the revelation that a third runway would reduce rather than increase domestic connections to the UK. This blows a hole straight through the heart of Heathrow’s central claim to be the airport for the whole of the UK.

“Taken together with Heathrow’s own rejection of the environmental conditions and the expert view that the Davies air quality consultation is fundamentally flawed it is clear that that the Heathrow hurdles are higher than ever. Choose Heathrow and it will be Groundhog Day - nothing will happen. Choose Gatwick and Britain can finally get on with it.”

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