Chairman's Annual Review 2014/15 - www.gatcom.org.uk
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Gatwick Airport Consultative Committee
Chairman’s
Annual Review
2014/15
www.gatcom.org.uk
Runway capacity
The report of the The Government announced
Government-appointed that it would now consider
IF GATWICK EXPANDS :
Airports Commission on the Commission’s conclusions
the possibility of additional and recommendations
runways being provided at and that the Secretary of Building
the two principal London
airports was published at the
State for Transport, Rt.
Hon. Patrick McLoughlin
one new runway
gets Britain
end of the year under review. MP, would come back to two world
The Commission, having
previously decided that it
Parliament in the autumn to
provide clear direction on the
class airports.
was essential that additional Government’s plans.
capacity is provided,
concluded that the Heathrow GATCOM gave preliminary
Northwest Runway option, in consideration to the
combination with a significant Commission’s report at its
package of measures to meeting in July 2015 and
address its environmental this produced a range of
gatwickobviously.com @LGWobviously
and community impacts, responses from members,
presented the strongest reflecting the different COM MITM ENT 3//
mOR E COM PETI TION
ITAIN
CONNECTING BRRE.
AND LOW ER AIRF , INNO VATI ON
case and was its preferred interests that they represent.
ARES
TO THE FUTU
The Competition
Commission’s
to force the break-up decision
Expansio n at
of BAA has already Gatwick will
increase
led to passeng competit ion in
er benefits in the London market
more choice, terms of
option. The Commission Collectively, GATCOM will FASTER.
competition, innovatio
2nd
n and
lower fares. In
the case of Gatwick
of service to passeng , levels
An expanded
Gatwick will handle A
more traffic than
ers have improve Heathrow today,
radically since d further increasin
the airport came g the competi
new ownersh under
that has been tion Runway at gatw
ip and a series
leading innovatio of industry- injected into the
London ick
ns have been
rolled out.
system following
the enforced breakup will help london
recommended that the maintain its neutral stance
fly to
440
of the BAA (now
Heathrow Airport
by the Compet Ltd)
ition Commis
sion.
The existence
of two large airports
London market in the
will encourage
in three ways: competition
destinations
Government should support towards the principal issue »
»
More competi
More competi
which use the
tion between
tion between
airports
the airports
the airlines
worldwide
the delivery of this plan in and will continue to provide a
Competit ion at » More competi
Edinburg h Airport tion from low
cost carriers
as an expande
d Gatwick is able
Edinburgh Airport to
1
was bought by satisfy fully this
2
Global Infrastru increasing demand
cture Partners much of which ,
Since then, competi in 2012. would be choked
by a high cost off
tion between expanded Heathrow
airports
its entirety. forum for informed discussion
in Scotland has .
delivered significa
benefits. Edinburg nt
h has signed Research studies
the biggest have shown that
3rd
deal in the airport’s to passengers benefits
history with easyJet,
agreed a new
deal with Ryanair
are greatest, particula
in terms of lower
fares, where these
rly a
the airline return that saw three
to growth at Edinburg elements are
present.
and promoted h
innovation, introduc runway at heathrow
and debate on the future of
UK’s first multi-air ing the
line bag drop Expansion at
Gatwick will give
competing vigorous facility. It is
greater stimulus a much will help londo
ly with Glasgow n fly to
413
Airport. to competition
be expected to and can
reduce air fares
Prior to 2012, the entire system across
Edinburgh flew to the benefit
long haul destinati to only one of all
on on a regular passengers. Airfares
compared to basis, will be up to £30
the airport.
six long haul routes billion lower over
at 60 years with
Glasgow. By 2014, runway at Gatwick a second
four new long . By contrast,
routes had been
added to some
haul
of the
Heathrow would
mean the reinforce
an expanded destinations
world’s major of Heathrow’s ment
hubs such as
Chicago, Philadelp
Doha,
would consolid
market dominan
ce and worldwide
hia, and Toronto. ate the high airport
Traffic at Edinburg which that dominan charges
h Airport has t position protects
from around 9 grown
million passeng .
in2012-13 to over ers a year
10 million passeng
2014 01
d Runway July
a year in 2013-14 ers
.
Gatwick’s Case for a Secon
24 CONNEC
TING BRITAIN TO THE
FUTURE. FASTER
1 2 3
.
Gatwick Airport Consultative Committee | Chairman’s Annual Review 2014/15 02
During the year leading up GAL’s campaign methods and the expenditure to the publication of the incurred in advertising and lobbying. Commission’s Final Report, GATCOM followed the Partly in response to this concern, but also as progress of its deliberations the result of the reaction to changes in the and responded to various management of Gatwick’s airspace, which is consultation papers on discussed in more detail below, GAL shared with which our comments were us proposals to enhance communications with invited. Gatwick Airport local communities around the airport. Members Limited (GAL) kept us up to were pleased to note that GAL acknowledged speed with its work, both in the need to improve communication channels preparing its submissions with local communities and that it was fully to the Commission and in committed to enhancing the way in which advocating to decision- the airport company communicates with its makers and the public its view neighbours. We supported GAL’s statement of that a second runway should intent regarding its future plans for community be provided at Gatwick. In engagement and asked for regular progress the latter context, we have reports. Members emphasised the role of local observed the rival public authorities, including town and parish councils, campaigns being conducted in this process. Consultation must be a two- in the media by GAL and way process and local communities need to Heathrow Airport Limited, be convinced that their responses are taken through national advertising seriously by the airport and, where possible, and contact with local acted on. GAL has already met over 100 councils authorities, organisations from the 244 initially contacted and has a and communities around schedule of meetings planned throughout this both London airports. summer. Some members have been critical of some aspects of 03 Gatwick Airport Consultative Committee | Chairman’s Annual Review 2014/15
Environment and infrastructure
GAL had previously outlined to GATCOM a and how the passenger experience can be
series of pledges designed to address the improved for those using public transport to
concerns of local communities that had been access the airport. Members were assured that
included in GAL’s submission to the Airports improvements to the road and rail network had
Commission. These pledges, which related already begun or been committed, such as the
to concerns about jobs, housing, noise and new Thameslink railway franchise which will
transport, were set out in last year’s annual significantly increase capacity, the investment to
review. improve Gatwick station and the improvements
to the M25 and M23. GAL reassured us that
They were welcomed by GATCOM, but it is working with all relevant agencies to
members raised concerns about the impact ensure that Gatwick is “road and rail ready”
of a second runway on communities, where by 2021, whatever the outcome of the Airports
additional housing land would be found and Commission’s report.
the scale of development needed, and the
investment needed to improve highways We have received a presentation on the
infrastructure. Members also enquired about development of project plans for the
the detail of the proposed apprenticeship improvement of Gatwick railway station. Four
funding initiative and how the allocation options of varying scope and cost ranging
of funding would be managed if it was between £106m and £186m have been under
available for a wide range of businesses. We consideration, each of which would provide
welcomed GAL’s undertaking to consult us for a new concourse and improved vertical
on how it was proposed to implement these access to the platforms. The business case
pledges. for all options is robust and GAL is working
closely with partners, including the DfT, local
We have also followed GAL’s work on its authorities and the Coast to Capital Local
evolving surface access strategy with interest, Economic Partnership (LEP) to secure the
and in particular its work on improving necessary funding contributions.
public transport connections over the longer
term to accommodate passenger growth
Gatwick Airport Consultative Committee | Chairman’s Annual Review 2014/15 04
The current station In commenting on a consultation paper from enhancement project is Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) on its draft separate from the decision on timetable for rail services in the off peak, we a second runway and is one of have highlighted the need for GAL and GTR the schemes that the Airports to work together to ensure the quality of the Commission recommended Gatwick Express service, including the interior for implementation in the design, furnishing and equipping of the new short term to address the rolling stock. We have also questioned on what needs of users as a single basis a premium fare continues to be charged runway airport. The full for what is now a diminished Gatwick Express transport interchange service and have urged GAL to explore all “Gatwick Gateway” project opportunities to enhance rail services to areas in formed part of the option for Kent. a second runway. It is crucial that GAL continues to work GATCOM is also keen to see improvements to with Network Rail and the bus and coach facilities and continues to support train operators to ensure that a project for a fully integrated multi-modal hub improvements keep pace to make movement between different means of with the growth in Gatwick’s transport as seamless as possible. passenger traffic and the growing demand from local commuters. 05 Gatwick Airport Consultative Committee | Chairman’s Annual Review 2014/15
Six local campaign groups, together with four local MPs, deliver a joint statement to the Prime Minister demanding dispersed flight paths and no second runway Airspace management GAL’s difficulties regarding the Protest groups have been formed, campaigns implementation of changes in the launched and GAL has been inundated with an management of Gatwick’s airspace, unprecedented number of complaints about referred to in my last annual review, have noise and track-keeping, with which the airport not eased during the year. The introduction has struggled to deal effectively. GATCOM of new arrangements, incorporating has spent much time discussing the issues the latest aircraft navigation technology and, in February, I wrote formally on behalf (Performance Based Navigation – PBN), of the Committee to GAL’s chief executive is a requirement of European legislation officer, Stewart Wingate, asking him to honour and their implementation, on behalf of the GAL’s undertaking to revert to conventional UK Government, is being led by the Civil navigation on Gatwick’s departure routes where Aviation Authority (CAA) and National Air the new system has had a detrimental effect on Traffic Service (NATS). local communities. As a result, some significant changes have been made to the management of Gatwick’s airspace and a new departure route has been trialled. This has resulted in some areas being overflown that did not previously experience aircraft noise or frequent overflight, while providing relief to others. The changes have attracted considerable public criticism and this criticism has been directed, somewhat unfairly, at GAL: the airport is in the front line and publicly accessible in a way that the Department for Transport (DfT), the CAA and NATS are not, although it is these latter organisations that are the architects of the changes which are being made or considered. Gatwick Airport Consultative Committee | Chairman’s Annual Review 2014/15 06
GAL held a well-attended Airspace Change Seminar in March, where representatives of local groups had the opportunity to hear explanations from the DfT and the CAA and to put their views forward. As a result, GAL undertook to consider a number of issues with the CAA and NATS, with a view to adjusting one of the new PBN departure routes where aircraft were not flying within the noise preferential route. Stewart Wingate, GAL’s chief executive officer, is pursuing local concerns about the impact of new navigation technology through the former Airports Commission’s Senior Delivery Group (SDG), of which he is a member, and I am discussing the issue with the chief executive of the CAA. GAL has asked consultants to analyse the complaints received and has shared the results of the analysis with GATCOM. Somewhat surprisingly, this analysis indicates that the increased number of complaints received by GAL about noise and track-keeping does not support the assumption that PBN has had a disproportionate impact on people living or working immediately underneath the new, more tightly drawn routes, but that large numbers of complaints have been received from areas at some distance from these routes. This needs further examination and discussion. 07 Gatwick Airport Consultative Committee | Chairman’s Annual Review 2014/15
Business as usual
Meanwhile, GAL has first comprehensive resilience plan and we look
continued – very successfully, forward to playing a similar role in the future.
in our view – to manage one
of the busiest international Our Passenger Advisory Group (PAG), led by
airports in the world. Peter Hall, has followed the implementation
Gatwick has seen continued of the recommendations of the review into
growth and handled the Christmas Eve 2013 disruption at the
38.4m passengers in 2014, airport by GAL non-executive director David
the greatest passenger McMillan. We were pleased to learn that the 27
throughput ever recorded at recommendations and 38 actions arising from
the airport. GAL is predicting the McMillan review have now been completed
passenger numbers to rise and audited by GAL and that GAL has accepted
to 40m during 2015, which that this is not the end of the process but the
is close to the maximum beginning of a pro-active engagement and
annual throughput of around collaboration to ensure resilience planning is
45m passengers that can be part of their day to day working.
achieved with the present
one runway/two terminals 2014 was a landmark year for the airport when
configuration. the CAA announced a new regulatory regime
covering the next seven years requiring GAL to
In these circumstances, it is engage and consult with its airline customers
vital to ensure the resilience in a different way with, amongst other things,
of airport operations in the aim of delivering an exceptional passenger
the event of emergencies experience. GATCOM was fully supportive of
which may arise from the formal role given to its PAG as part of the
adverse weather conditions, new regime which means that the passengers’
security alerts and other perspective is now considered in the
factors. We were pleased preparation and review of the airport’s Capital
to have the opportunity to Investment Programme. GATCOM greatly
comment on the airport’s appreciates the additional time its volunteer
Gatwick Airport Consultative Committee | Chairman’s Annual Review 2014/15 08
passenger representatives review of procedures. The review noted the
have devoted to fulfilling this need for ground handling staff to be fully
new role, again ably led by trained in advance of the summer peak and
PAG Chairman, Peter Hall. GAL will encourage handling agents to ensure
that this is delivered.
PAG has continued to monitor
Gatwick’s performance on GAL also aimed to have in place a fully trained
arrivals baggage delivery and contingency team to be available if needed.
flight departures and, last Through enhanced collaboration between
summer, had discussions with GAL and the airlines it is hoped that there
Swissport, the handling agent will also be a significant improvement in flight
with the poorest performance departures punctuality this summer. PAG will
at that time, who promised monitor progress with GAL, the handling agents
a significant improvement. and the airlines and will report to GATCOM.
There was indeed some
improvement during the PAG has been involved in many changes that
summer months, effected by are being planned or have recently been
GAL’s collaborative working implemented at Gatwick. A good example
and the redeployment of GAL is the major North Terminal development
staff to assist at busy times. project, which is now well under way. The
More handling agents are work will include an update of the immigration
being introduced at Gatwick area, which will provide two more manned
and PAG welcomed the desks, new e-gates and additional space for
opportunity to input to the queuing passengers if needed. The process
preparation of a new ground of continuous change which has been such a
handling agreement which strong feature of GAL’s management of the
will clearly define expected airport demands the provision of information to
performance. Following the passengers about what is being done and why.
experience of summer 2014, Although few complaints have been received so
GAL instituted a thorough far, PAG feels that there is a lack of information
09 Gatwick Airport Consultative Committee | Chairman’s Annual Review 2014/15for passengers about the works and GAL is consult PAG’s PRM working group on service
addressing the issues raised. development and plans. There are certain
measures that improve the PRM passenger
In the South Terminal, the information desk journey and increasing pre-notification rates
has been removed and replaced by an and airlines seeking clarification of the term
information point on a pillar which provides ‘wheelchair’ would help GAL to improve the
free telephones for passengers to use to service offered.
make enquiries direct to the requested
services. PAG has raised concerns about this Finally, GATCOM is pleased to report that, in
development, its signage and information response to our requests, GAL has given more
and requested that it should be fixed before publicity, including in the first edition of their
the summer months. A new generation of new community newsletter ‘Airmail’, to the
immigration e-gates have been introduced local residents’ scheme which enables people
in South Terminal which are providing picking up friends and relatives at the airport to
a significantly more efficient service to pay a concessionary charge for car parking.
incoming passengers. The expectation was
that this development would allow 95 per Edition
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Gatwick Airport Consultative Committee | Chairman’s Annual Review 2014/15 10A busy year ahead!
As we approach yet another challenging
year, I would like to thank all members
of GATCOM and PAG for the work
they do to assist GAL to provide a
successful airport which meets local,
national and international needs,
while acting as a good neighbour to
the many communities and interests
affected by it operations. The strength
of GATCOM lies in its ability to enable
representatives with a wide range of
opinions and interests to meet together
and discuss their differences, with
the airport and with each other, in a Dr John Godfrey
constructive, positive and courteous Chairman, GATCOM
way, and I am very grateful to all
members for their commitment and
the way in which they participate in our
meetings.
For more information contact
As ever, I record my thanks to my Vice- GATCOM Secretariat:
Chairman Charles Yarwood, the staff
of the Secretariat, our Independent T: 033022 22543
Technical Adviser Ros Howell and GAL’s E: secretary@gatcom.org.uk
chief executive officer and his team. www.gatcom.org.uk
11 Gatwick Airport Consultative Committee | Chairman’s Annual Review 2014/15Image Source: Gatwick Airport Limited
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