Latest News

Gatwick Sold: GACC is concerned that the purchase of Gatwick by another faceless international consortium could mean that the residents of Surrey, Sussex and Kent take second place to the pursuit of profit. GACC press release here.

Gatwick Expansion. On Monday the 20th of October Crawley Borough Council brought forward a vote on Gatwick Airport’s application for planning permission to expand the North Terminal. Though the Council were “minded to approve” BAA’s application, they were prevented from giving the go ahead until the government decides whether there should be a public enquiry. GACC press release here

Full details of the planning application, which if approved would enable the airport to handle 40 million passengers a year with 20,000 extra flights -
here and our objection here

To see other objections go to the bottom of the page and click on “view documents”, then scroll down to the very end and click on “view comments”.

Demand for a public inquiry. GACC has asked the Government Office for the South East to call in the planning application so that there can be a full public inquiry. See:
Letter to GOSE

Noise Action Plan. Under the EU Environmental Noise Directive, Gatwick Airport has been required to produce a draft noise action plan. GACC has submitted a detailed response. The closing date for the consultation is 7 October See our response
here

Gatwick and Climate Change. Gatwick Airport has produced a report on the climate change impact of the airport. GACC has published a hard-hitting critique,
here

Sale of Gatwick. Speculation that the sale of Gatwick makes an additional runway more likely is inaccurate. The reasons why another runway is a non-starter is set out in this note.
Why no extra runway?

See also articles in the Guardian and The Daily Telegraph

Fallible Forecasts: A critique of the Department for Transport forecasts, written by Brendon Sewill, chairman of GACC (but in his role as chairman of the Aviation Economics Group), was published in March 2008. It shows that forecasts for the growth in passenger numbers are unrealistic, forecasts for the climate change damage done by aviation are serious underestimates, and forecasts for the economic benefits of new runways greatly exaggerated. Fallible Forecasts

Noise from incoming aircraft. GACC has put forward constructive proposals for reducing the disturbance from incoming aircraft, and has discussed these with the (former) Minister for Aviation. They are at present under consideration by a high level government committee. GACC Proposal.

Gatwick and Climate Change An important new study of the climate change impact of aircraft using Gatwick has been undertaken by GACC. It shows that UK citizens on return flights from Gatwick are responsible for emissions equivalent to more than the total emissions from all other activities in Surrey and West Sussex.

Full version giving details of calculations, and references for all sources

The A380 In 2005 BAA widened the Gatwick runway to enable it to handle the giant new A380 aircraft. GACC pointed out that they should have applied for planning permission. Crawley Council agreed. In July 2008 BAA put in a planning application. GACC objected. Planning permission has now been granted - but only for diversionary flights, not for regular services. GACC objection