Brexit to Favor Gatwick Airport Expansion
Luciana Mangas June 29, 2016
Following the referendum results, expansion plans for Heathrow may be delayed.
The repercussions of the historic Brexit win last week – in which the British voted in favor of the UK leaving the European Union (EU) – are starting to make themselves known. Following Prime Minister David Cameron’s resignation, BBC reports that plans of a Heathrow expansion will most likely be delayed, in favor of a Gatwick Airport expansion.
BBC’s Transportation Correspondent, Richard Westcott, says that while the preference for Heathrow was made with David Cameron in charge, others in the Conservative party, who may contest the leadership, were opposed to it.
Steward Wingate, of the West Sussex site, believes that Gatwick’s expansion could balance the economy and the environment for the country. He is expected to announce at the National Infrastructure Forum’s annual conference this Tuesday that a second runway at Gatwick could be delivered by 2025, and causing only a fraction of the environmental impact that an expansion at Heathrow would cause.
“It is now clearer than ever that only Gatwick can deliver the new runway Britain needs – to provide the direct connections to North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia that we all want, because only Gatwick can balance the economy and the environment.The time has now come for everyone to get behind a new runway so the country can get the economic boost that is more important than ever.” Wingate says.
However, Heathrow’s Chief Executive, John Holland-Kaye, is not so confident that this is the best course of action.
“At an uncertain time for the British economy, MPs recognise that Heathrow is a private sector infrastructure project that will spread growth across Britain from the moment that we get a green light.” he commented.
[Photo: Vizts]
