A group of 19 successful UK entrepreneurs and founders of businesses today pledged their support for expanding Gatwick.
They include Luke Johnson, former chairman of Pizza Express and Patisserie Valerie; John Stapleton, co-founder of New Covent Garden Soup and Little Dish; Duncan Cheatle, founder of The Supper Club and co-founder of StartUp Britain; and Emma Jones, founder of Enterprise Nation.
They have signed an open letter to the Airports Commission highlighting the importance of maintaining a competitive network of airports in the south east to sustain choice and resilience when accessing overseas markets.
It concludes that only an expanded Gatwick would reinforce the competition that was so long in coming to the UK’s aviation industry, and that expanding Heathrow would restore its monopoly and strangle the benefits of this diversity.
Jones, speaking on behalf of the signatories, said: “Enabling startup businesses to go global is vital to the future of the UK economy.
“Start-ups do not have vast expense accounts, but rely on low-cost fares to reach new markets. Since the breakup of BAA, Gatwick has excelled in providing more choice, lower fares, better service levels and efficient service – why wouldn’t UK entrepreneurs want more of the same?”
Gatwick chief executive Stewart Wingate said: “Indecision has dogged this debate for decades but more than anything, entrepreneurs and businesses up and down the country need certainty.
“Expansion at Heathrow is politically and environmentally toxic, but a new runway at Gatwick could be delivered by 2025 at a fraction of the environmental impact of Heathrow.“