The Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, is expected to announce on Thursday whether Gatwick Airport's expansion plan will proceed.
Ms. Alexander faces a deadline to approve or reject the airport's application to bring its emergency runway into regular operation, potentially accommodating an additional 100,000 flights annually.
Addressing aviation leaders on Tuesday, Ms Alexander affirmed her support for airport expansion, stating "I believe in airport expansion" and that she is "not some sort of flight-shaming eco-warrior".
In addition to Gatwick, Ms. Alexander must decide on Luton Airport's expansion plan by April 3, while Heathrow Airport advances its third runway project.
As the "decision maker" on airport expansions, Ms. Alexander said she aims to "strike a balance" between economic benefits like jobs, trade, and tourism, and environmental concerns, ensuring projects align with the UK's climate and air quality commitments, minimise noise, and ensure fair cost distribution.
Gatwick’s £2.2 billion privately financed project would see it move the emergency runway 12 metres north.
That would enable it to be used for departures of narrow-bodied planes such as Airbus A320s and Boeing 737s.
The plan also involves remodelling and replacing existing taxiways – which connect runways to terminals, hangars and other facilities – extending both terminals, and installing new aircraft gates.
The airport says its scheme is “shovel ready” and construction could start this year.
It hopes the upgraded runway will be operational by the end of the decade.
Gatwick chief executive Stewart Wingate said: “We can be a major part of the Government’s drive for growth.
“We are already contributing over £5.5 billion to the UK economy and supporting over 76,000 jobs, but unless we can access greater airport capacity the UK will miss out on opportunities to enhance global connectivity and unlock further opportunities for trade, tourism and job creation.”
Gatwick says its plans would create £1 billion per year in economic benefits, and generate an additional 14,000 jobs.
Local campaigners opposed to Gatwick’s expansion have expressed concerns over the impact on surface transport, noise, housing provision and wastewater treatment.
But the airport insists it has conducted “full and thorough assessments” of those issues.
