Airport bosses have shared how plans for a new runway will lead to better service for passengers and help to prevent delays and cancellations.

Gatwick Airport recently announced that it had officially submitted plans to bring its second runway into regular use as part of expansion plans.

Now, chief executive Stewart Wingate has shared how the new plans would increase the “resilience” of the airport and improve the experience for passengers.

Mr Wingate said: “If approved, our plan will also improve airport resilience, meet future passenger demand, and increase competition in the London airport market, by providing vital new international connections to support ‘Global Britain’.

“When there is disruption on the continent, for example on the continent like today with the industrial action in France, it will give us more resilience in the way the airfield is utilised.

“At the moment we are using the airfield really strongly and this additional capacity will give us more resilience to help ride out some of those forms of disruption.”

Plans for the second runway would see travel slots in peak times and off-peak times opened up, leading to over 100,000 extra flights taking off and landing each year.

The new runway, if approved, could begin construction in early 2025 before becoming operational in the early 2030s.

The plans would allow for hundreds of extra continentals shorter-haul flights to use the runway to take off. Estimated costs for the works are around £2.2 billion.

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In return, Gatwick bosses estimate that the surrounding economy would benefit from around £1 billion per year.

By the late 2030s to early 2040s, Gatwick expects to serve around 75 million passengers per year, should the plans be approved.

The plans have been met with staunch opposition from campaign groups who say that the new runway will cause environmental damage and noise pollution to nearby residents.

Gatwick Airport say that mitigations have been included in the plans which would help to curb the effect of the additional air travel.

The airport intends to be net zero emissions by 2030 and has invested £250 million into the initiative.