Where the Airport talks to its users and neighbours

Date of Next Meeting

Thursday 22nd April 2010 at 2.00pm - venue to be announced

The meetings of GATCOM - but not its sub-groups - are now open to the public and the press


Accessibility: There are simple links to all parts of this site from the Sitemap (Alt+1; Enter)

Airport Master Plan
- latest news More about the airport noise

Airport Noise
- find out more More about the Gatwick Master Plan

Noise Action Plan
The Airport's 16 week public consultation on its draft noise action plan - click here for more details - closed on 7th October 2009

GATWICK is the second largest UK airport currently handling around 33 million passengers per annum. An airport development strategy is now in place which has set the framework for its future growth to accommodate around 40 million passengers per annum by 2008/09.

Like all airports, Gatwick affects people's lives in many different ways. On the one hand it offers a wide range of jobs and brings economic benefits and prosperity to the area. But on the other hand it can cause a number of problems and concerns to local communities, particularly on issues such as aircraft noise both in the air and on the ground, pollution, development demands, traffic and parking. Also, the traveller's experience of the airport, as well as the needs of the airlines, are very important elements in the consideration of the airport's future.

GATCOM seeks to reach a common understanding between the various interests about the nature and operation of the airport so that issues can be resolved amicably. It is therefore the custom and practice of GATCOM to ensure that all views are properly reflected and, wherever possible, to work through consensus. Seeking a balance between these wide and conflicting interests is a challenging role. Our primary objective is to ensure the future success of Gatwick providing high quality services to passengers and airlines, having particular regard to the impact this has on the surrounding communities.

GATCOM has 28 appointed representatives from a wide range of interests including local authorities, civil aviation, passenger, business and community and environmental groups. A Government representative is also present at the main GATCOM meetings, together with BAA Gatwick's Managing Director and his senior management team.

Headlines

Meeting on 28th January, 2010
The key points discussed at this meeting are outlined in the attached Headlines. The agenda papers for this meeting are on our Agendas Page. The full minutes of the meeting will be published on this site as soon as they are ready. See also our press release issued on 26th January.
Pictures by kind permission of Stuart Innes, Clare Jones, Natalia Nosova and BAA plc
Page last updated: 4th February 2010

GATCOM:

  seeks to build interest, communication and understanding between the airport and its users, local residents and the business community
  considers airport issues concerned with the environment, surface access, employment, the economy and the circumstances of local communities
  works with the airport to secure a sustainable development strategy
  works to protect and enhance the interests of passengers and other users of the airport
  considers and comments on matters referred to it by BAA Gatwick
considers and responds to consultations from Government and other sources that are material to the operation and future development of the airport

 

Chairman's Annual Review 2008/09
- now available
You can also see the report for last year 2007/08

New Transit System
A new inter-terminal transit system at Gatwick is being installed as part of the airport's £1 billion investment programme. From 28 September 2009 until May 2010, a replacement bus service will operate between Gatwick's North and South Terminals. The service will run every three minutes during the day (04.00 to 18.00) and  every six minutes at night. Passengers should allow 20 minutes to transfer between terminals during this period. As the transit stations will be closed, access between South Terminal and local buses will be via alternative routes. More Information