At a glance:
- The UK Civil Aviation Authority has accepted Gatwick Airport Limited's (GAL) new commitments to airlines for 2025/26 to 2028/29.
- The regulator will modify GAL’s licence to implement the new commitments including a price cap on how much GAL can charge airline customers, and changes to the current service quality targets for consumers.
- The regulator’s support for Gatwick’s commitments is conditional on it continuing to make progress with plans for capacity expansion through its development of the airport’s northern runway.
The UK Civil Aviation Authority has today accepted Gatwick Airport Limited’s (GAL) new commitments to airlines for the four-year period from 2025/26 to 2028/29.
The new commitments include a price cap that limits how much GAL can charge airline customers, which will ensure real reductions in airport charges; and changes to strengthen the airport’s current service quality targets.
The core service standards establish clear performance targets designed to strengthen Gatwick’s overall effectiveness, including in the provision of special assistance services, supporting the resilience of the airport and the on-time operation of its flights, improving passenger satisfaction with seating facilities, and securing the efficiency of the security screening of passengers and baggage processing.
The regulator’s support for Gatwick’s commitments is conditional on it continuing to make progress with its plans for capacity expansion. An important component of Gatwick Airport Limited’s future investment plan is its proposal to extend its current “standby” northern runway which could increase Gatwick’s maximum capacity by an estimated 13 million passengers per year.
The Secretary of State has issued a ‘minded to approve’ decision on Gatwick’s northern runway project and the deadline for the final decision is 27 October 2025.
Notes to editors:
- The UK Civil Aviation Authority is the statutory body responsible for regulating all aspects of civil aviation and space in the United Kingdom.
- Since 2014, the UK Civil Aviation Authority’s economic regulation of GAL has been based on a set of commitments to airlines and passengers that are incorporated into the airport’s Licence as conditions with measurable targets.
- The CAA’s decision on GAL’s commitments can be appealed to the Competition and Markets Authority by both GAL and/or the main airlines that operate from Gatwick.
- The price cap is based on GAL’s current published charges and has been updated to allow for a maximum increase in price of CPI-1% in the first two years of the extension period (2025/26 and 2026/27) and CPI+0% for the final two years of the extension period (2027/28 and 2028/29). The price ceiling in 2025/26 is about £14.30 per passenger (excluding permitted security cost).
- A link to the final document with the Civil Aviation Authority’s Final Decision is available on our website.