22 . Glasgow Business March/April 2014


Gatwick expansion plan aims to deliver cheaper travel to more destinations for the people of Scotland, says CEO Stewart Wingate at a recent Glasgow Talks event


NEW RUNWAY WOULD BENEFIT SCOTLAND, SAYS GATWICK CEO


B


usiness in Scotland would benefit if a new runway were built at London Gatwick,


according to the airport’s Chief Executive. Stewart Wingate said that there


was a strong case why those outside London and the South East of England should back Gatwick rather than Heathrow to be chosen as the location for a new runway. He believed so strongly in this that he had come to Glasgow to make the case, he said, in what was Glasgow Chamber’s first Glasgow Talk of 2014. He announced that Gatwick


Airport is to commission a new study into airport expansion and connectivity to Scotland. He said that airport expansion


was not just about the South East of England, but also about delivering economic benefits, more affordable travel and greater connectivity for passengers throughout the UK. Mr Wingate said: “If we get the


second runway, it will free up new landing slots for more flights. “Scotland is very important to


Gatwick and our planned expansion “Some people have criticised us


for lack of ambition, but how many other £2.5 billion companies do you know that are willing to make an investment of £5 billion?” A government commission,


chaired by Sir Howard Davies, is producing a final report which will recommend where to place a new runway for the south of England. Mr Wingate said he thought the shortlist would be between Gatwick and Heathrow and he believed that Gatwick should prevail. Stuart Patrick, Chief Executive


Neil Amner, Deputy President, GCoC; Stewart Wingate, Chief Executive, Gatwick Airport; and Stuart Patrick, Chief Executive, Glasgow Chamber of Commerce


will protect competition and deliver cheaper travel to more destinations for the people of Scotland.” Mr Wingate argued that there


was a strong case against the proposal to build a new airport on the Tames Estuary. He said that estuary airport would cost in the region of £80-£100 billon. He also claimed that adding the


new runway, a third, to Heathrow to create a ‘super hub’ would mean around 120 million passengers using that airport.


“Te environmental impact if


the new runway goes to Heathrow is why Heathrow is politically non-deliverable,” he said. Mr Wingate pointed out that


the local council around Gatwick was in favour of the airport receiving the new runway and said that he believed that it was gaining more and more support. He said that Gatwick’s investors


were absolutely commited to providing the finance to build a new £5 billion runway.


Forthcoming Glasgow Talks...


Glasgow Talks... Football Thursday 24 April 8am - 10am Hampden Park, Letherby Drive, Glasgow G42 9BA


Glasgow Talks... Football event features Stewart Regan, Chief Executive, and Mark Wotte, Performance Director, both of the Scottish Football Association. Come and see the progress


at Hampden Park as it is transformed for the Commonwealth Games and hear from those at the top of Scottish football about sport provision and development in Scotland.


Glasgow Talks... with Katherine Grainger Wednesday 14 May 6pm-9:30pm Hilton Glasgow, 1 William Street, Glasgow G3 8HT


of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, said: “We are delighted that the Chief Executive of London Gatwick has come to Glasgow to listen to the views of our members. Access to London is vital for the businesses we represent and for the success of the local and national economics and Stewart recognised that. “We are working hard to


ensure that capacity constraints in the south east don’t limit our future ability to access such vital national and international markets and in the short term this remains an issue.”


Glasgow Chamber of Commerce welcomes Olympic gold medallist Katherine Grainger to May’s Glasgow Talks... Executive Dinner. One of the UK’s most decorated female Olympians, Katherine won Gold at the 2012 Olympics in double sculls. She also holds another three Olympic silver medals and is a six-time World Champion. For further information on our Glasgow Talks... series, please contact the Events Department on 0141 204 8319, email: marketing@ glasgowchamberofcommercecom or visit www.glasgowchamberofcommerce.com


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