What swayed the decision for second Gatwick runway and what does it mean for Heathrow?

"In February the transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, said she was minded to approve its second runway plan, after planning inspectors initially recommended refusal. However, she outlined potential conditions, including making most passengers take the train rather than a car to the airport, which Gatwick only partly agreed to accept. Gatwick said it still needs time to examine the small print of the decision, announced five weeks ahead of the deadline, but which appears to reframe public transport quotas as targets rather than binding."

"The airport must also make some further concessions on compensating nearby homeowners for noise insulation or, in extreme cases, costs of moving away. Assuming it accepts the relaxed conditions, Gatwick will start detailed design work on the 2.2bn scheme, hoping to getting the second runway operational by around the turn of the decade, according to a spokesperson. Now the busiest single-runway airport in Europe, it plans to bring its emergency or standby runway into routine use."

Gatwick has received approval to construct a second runway that could add more than 100,000 flights annually under conditional requirements. The decision treats some public transport quotas as targets rather than strict limits and requires concessions on homeowner compensation for noise insulation or relocation. If the conditions are accepted, Gatwick will begin detailed design on a £2.2bn project, convert its standby runway to routine use, shift the 2.5km strip sideways by 12 metres, extend two terminals, install new gates and fund local highway improvements. The backing is positioned alongside commitments to a third runway at Heathrow.

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