Low cost carrier Norwegian aims to push ahead with plans to raise flights from Gatwick even if Heathrow wins the battle to expand.
The airline backed Gatwick’s proposed expansion earlier in the year, saying it would increase its existing capacity by 50 long-haul Boeing 787 Dreamliners if a second runway is built at the airport.
A spokesman said that Norwegian had always supported Gatwick as the right choice for the country’s next runway, but whatever the final decision, the airline’s UK growth plans remain unchanged.
A spokesman told the Daily Telegraph: “Norwegian’s expansion at our Gatwick base and other UK airports will continue in 2017 with even more new routes, increased flights and brand new aircraft.
“If Gatwick is also allowed to expand in future, that will allow us to be even more ambitious in our plans.”
Norwegian is Gatwick’s third largest airline and the only one to have publicly voiced support for expansion there since the Airports Commission found in favour of Heathrow more than a year ago.
Chief executive Bjorn Kjos told the Aviation Club in London in March that Gatwick was the only choice “that will actually deliver what the whole industry needs”.
Although Cabinet sources have reportedly said that they expect prime minister Theresa May to decide to expand Heathrow, she could leave the door open to an expansion of Gatwick in the coming years.