Gatwick proposes capacity increase through routine use of standby runway

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Heathrow may be getting its new runway, but Gatwick has unveiled a draft proposal to utilise its standby runway on a routine basis to increase freight capacity. Air Cargo News reports that doing so could see the gateway more than triple cargo volumes by 2033 to 325,000 tonnes. Per a 40-year-old planning agreement, the standby runway is only for use in emergencies and when the main runway is undergoing maintenance. This agreement, however, comes to an end in 2019.