The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the º£½ÇÊÓƵ's aviation watchdog, has given a nod to Gatwick Airport's bid for a second runway by accepting several financial pledges from the airport for the coming four years.
On Tuesday, the CAA voiced its belief that Gatwick's expansion plans will still deliver "benefits to consumers", notwithstanding the potential development of a third runway at Heathrow, as reported by .
Gatwick has made commitments including a price cap on charges to its airline customers, and revisions to existing service quality targets aimed at consumers.
The fresh commitments include setting the maximum increase in the price cap for the initial two years to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) minus one percent.
The CAA highlighted that its backing for Gatwick's newfound targets is "conditional" upon the airport maintaining progress in its pursuit of a £2.2bn capacity enhancement.
A conclusive verdict on the project is anticipated from Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander by Thursday.
Gatwick hopes to convert its standby runway into standard operational use, which it claims could accommodate up to 76 million passengers annually and broaden access to an array of long-haul destinations.
Meanwhile, the Labour government has shown support for various airport projects, all aimed at significantly amplifying capacity.
Just last month, Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered a speech on growth, affirming her backing for not only Heathrow's much-debated and perpetually postponed third runway but also for the less extensive proposals put forth by Gatwick and Luton airports.
The government's decision in August to approve London City Airport's plans to significantly raise its annual passenger limit from 6.5m to 9m, despite a local council ruling, has also been a point of contention.
Critics, including London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan, argue that Gatwick's expansion plans undermine the need for a third runway at Heathrow, the º£½ÇÊÓƵ's largest airport.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) stated on Tuesday that it had taken into account the "implications of the recent government announcement in relation to the development of a third runway at Heathrow."
It further noted: "Gatwick's airline and passenger base is significantly different from that using Heathrow and we remain of the view that there are likely to be benefits to consumers in expanding capacity in Gatwick, including in relation to meeting the demands of passengers in the choice of destinations, enhanced competitive pressure on airlines and the greater resilience of airport infrastructure."
