Big news for the UK's airspace today: The owners of Gatwick Airport have reportedly unveiled proposals to ramp up the existing investment at the airport.
According to Breaking Travel News, officials at Gatwick have said that the airport will now spend a further £1 billion on the airport between 2014 and 2019 to build on the improvements made over the past three years.
In the longer term, the airport is looking to add a new runway, but the government has said no decision can be taken on this issue until after the next general election in 2015.
The next phase of improvements will likely include further transformation of check-in areas and a £26 million hi-tech security area in the North Terminal and a £90 million expansion of the international departure lounge.
Gatwick Airport is also looking to begin work next year on a £175 million plan to extend Pier 6 to increase the number of A380 stands. So far, it has spent £892 million of a planned £1.2 billion upgrade program set down for 2008-2014. This equates to around £20 million per month to upgrade and improve the airport facilities.
However, airlines have reportedly been less that welcoming of the news, with Virgin Atlantic arguing that the airport should seek to lower prices and better utilize existing resources.