A new taxiway at Gatwick Airport means planes leave the runway sooner after landing, cutting delays and reducing noise pollution.

The project was completed last month and in its first four days of operation was used by 56 per cent of arriving aircraft.

Engineers built the rapid exit taxiway on runway 26L, enabling aircraft to leave the runway in a better location after landing.

Previously, some planes would narrowly miss the first taxiway to exit the runway if they landed later than anticipated, weather conditions made braking more challenging, or they were flying with a heavier load than normal.

This would result in the aircraft travelling slowly along the runway to the next taxiway exit, which could take an extra 20 seconds or more.

But the new exit means the runway will perform more consistently with a reduction in go-arounds and holding times as planes can leave the runway quicker than a traditional exit.

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Gatwick's transformation programme lead Gavin Sillitto said: "For aircraft exiting the runway, it is like the speed of turning onto a motorway slip road rather than onto a suburban street.

"It's putting an exit in a place which is natural for how pilots normally brake, that can handle aircraft exiting safely at higher speeds, increasing resilience, reducing delays and limiting carbon and noise emissions.” 

Construction began in 2020 but was paused during the Covid-19 pandemic.

After the pandemic, a redesign reduced construction carbon emissions by more than ten per cent. 

Gavin added: "Every project where you are building next to a live runway is complex, but we have a great result thanks to fantastic teamwork across the airport and with our contractor, PJ Hegarty. "

The north runway was used by landing aircraft at times to enable crews to work for extended periods on the new taxiway.

Andrew Isted, senior project manager at Gatwick, said: "We were delighted to complete the project with no impact to or complaints from the local community, with our contractors operating carefully and safely, and often at night, in a busy operational environment.”