London Gatwick Airport has reached a key milestone in its long-awaited expansion plans after the Court of Appeal rejected legal challenges from two campaign groups battling the Northern Runway project. The judgement confirms the UK Secretary of State for Transport acted lawfully in approving the development in September 2025, which allows the airport to move into the design and delivery phase.
The decision effectively closes out an eight-year planning and legal process that has put the project under heavy scrutiny. With the legal hurdles now cleared, Gatwick can concentrate on building the infrastructure to operate its existing Northern Runway alongside the airport’s main runway in its normal day-to-day running.
The first flights are expected to depart from the upgraded runway in 2030 under current plans, marking a significant boost in the airport’s operational capacity.
London Gatwick chief executive Pierre-Hugues Schmit welcomed the judgment, saying the Court of Appeal’s decision confirmed the government’s approval of the project was proper and lawful. “This is the end of an eight-year process where every aspect of the expansion plans of the airport has been scrutinized at different phases,” he said.
The UK Government said the Northern Runway project would, once operational, raise the airport’s capacity by some 13 million passengers a year and enable around 100,000 more flights a year. Gatwick already offers more than 200 destinations and the expanded airport is expected to strengthen its position as one of the UK’s leading international aviation hubs.
The project is expected to bring substantial economic benefits beyond the aviation capacity. It is expected to create about 14,000 new jobs and add an estimated £1bn a year to the UK economy. Gatwick also stated that the investment will be backed by an employment, skills and business strategy designed to create long-term opportunities for local communities and the wider region.
The legal process is now complete and the Northern Runway project has entered a new phase, taking one of the UK’s largest airport expansion plans a step closer to reality.
