THE boss of Gatwick has strongly criticised the commission that recommended the Government should award a runway to its aviation rival.

In a 50-page dossier assembled by Gatwick, its chief executive Stewart Wingate also attacked Heathrow itself, saying its recommendation by the Airports Commission was “unravelling by the day”.

Following a protracted process that ended in July, the Airports Commission recommended that Heathrow, the country’s biggest airport, was the preferred site for expansion.

Challenging the credibility of the five-member commission, Mr Wingate said: “We expected a well-considered examination of all options, but instead the final report contains so many omissions and basic errors that its reliability as the basis of aviation policy must be called into question. The findings of this report simply do not add up.”

He said it had “become abundantly clear” that Heathrow would not meet the conditions of its expansion or pay for £6 billion in access improvements, adding: “The recommendation for Heathrow is unravelling by the day.”

He said: “I remain confident that when all the risks and benefits are properly considered, Gatwick will still represent the best option for UK airport expansion.”

Gatwick also drew attention to the commission’s report expecting it to reach 40 million passengers by 2024 whereas the airport has said it will reach that number this year.

The airport also questioned traffic assessments and how the move would impact on long-haul flights to and from growth markets in the Far East.

Sally Pavey of the Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign (GACC), which is opposed to runway expansion, told The Argus: “Mr Wingate needs to change the record. The commission spent years analysing the UK aviation industry and £20 million of taxpayer money whereas Mr Wingate has a vested interest in criticising the report as it was not in favour of expanding Gatwick.

“Gatwick ignores that Heathrow has many roads and rail links whereas Gatwick has one road and one railway line, the second worst in the country, that can't be expanded.

Hundreds of residents protesting against Gatwick’s bid for a second runway staged a demonstration on Sunday when they formed the words “Gatwick, how low can you go” in a field close to the flight path.

Ms Pavey added: “Gatwick already has problems with residents with aircraft noise and the protest on Sunday is a fine example of this.”

An Airports Commission spokesman said the evidence in the final report was “subject to extensive analysis”, adding: “We are confident it is fit for purpose.”

A Heathrow spokeswoman said: “The Airports Commission undertook a £20-million, two-and-a-half-year detailed study of where the next runway should be in the UK.

“It unanimously and unambiguously chose Heathrow because it is the only option that will connect the whole UK to global growth.”