London Gatwick Airport has received final approval to begin its £2.2 billion northern runway project after the UK Court of Appeal rejected the last legal challenges from environmental groups.

The decision ends eight years of planning disputes and allows construction to move forward.

The project will shift Gatwick’s emergency northern runway 12 metres north so it can operate alongside the main runway, adding around 100,000 flights a year and boosting annual passenger capacity to over 80 million by 2030.

Upgrades include new taxiways, extra aircraft stands, terminal improvements and better road access.

Gatwick says the expansion will create 14,000 jobs and generate £1 billion a year in economic benefits.

The UK government supports the project as part of its wider aviation growth strategy, alongside planned expansions at Heathrow and Luton.

Environmental groups argued the scheme would increase noise and emissions, but the courts ruled the government’s approval process was lawful.

For airlines, the decision unlocks major new capacity in one of Europe’s busiest markets, supporting both short‑haul and long‑haul growth.