It is true that aircraft are getting quieter and more efficient (Heathrow turns to sound lab for a quieter airport, 24 March) – indeed, at Gatwick, we serve one of the quietest fleets in Europe. What is also true, however, is that, if expanded, Heathrow would affect 320,000 people who are not affected by noise today. Based on the Airports Commission’s analysis, there are close to 800,000 people affected by Heathrow noise today. These numbers are huge by any measure.
We don’t need a lab to work out that three runways at Heathrow will be much noisier than two. We do not pretend that more aircraft will result in less noise. On the contrary, we accept that noise from an expanded Gatwick would affect about 37,000 people. While this is a fraction of the Heathrow number, we take this issue very seriously and have created an innovative noise management scheme to help deal with the effects. We have also offered direct cash compensation to those most affected and we continue to call on Heathrow to match our offer.
The choice is clear – affect around 800,000 people in London or build at Gatwick instead.
Stewart Wingate
Chief executive officer, Gatwick Airport
