Gatwick airport is the public’s choice for the location of a new runway in the south east of England, according to three separate You Gov polls.
Three different groups, Londoners, Gatwick residents and people living near Heathrow, all came out in favour of building a new runway at Gatwick over Heathrow.
Heathrow has responded by publishing a different You Gov poll that showed out of 3,728 UK residents, 52 per cent favoured Heathrow compared to 28 per cent for Gatwick.
Both airports have been shortlisted for potential new runways by the government-appointed Airports Commission, which will be making its final recommendation for expansion in the south-east in summer 2015 after the next general election.
You Gov surveyed more than 1,000 Londoners and asked them given a straight choice between Heathrow and Gatwick, which one would they choose – 46 per cent think that Gatwick should be expanded compared to 35 per cent choosing Heathrow.
When residents living near both airports were asked, 52 per cent of Gatwick residents said their local airport should be expanded compared to only 36% selecting Heathrow. More than half (51 per cent) of Heathrow residents thought Gatwick was the best choice for expansion, with 40 per cent choosing their local airport.
All three groups said expanding Gatwick would be the best option in terms of delivering greater competition between gateways and generating more choice for passengers.
They also opted for expansion at Gatwick based on the speed and ease a new runway can be delivered, and because fewer additional aircraft would fly over and impact the people of central London.
Stewart Wingate, Gatwick CEO, said: “These polls show that Gatwick’s campaign is gaining momentum.
“Aviation is changing fast and there is increasing recognition that expansion at Gatwick is best suited to current market trends and can help deliver the economic benefits the UK needs at an environmental cost we can afford.
“An expanded Gatwick will give London a system of competitive airports that will help keep fares low for all passengers at the same time as freeing up sufficient hub capacity at Heathrow.”
Earlier this month a poll of MPs showed the majority would back airport expansion at Heathrow.