Two reports about the economic impact of Gatwick have been released, outlining the airport’s role in creating jobs and supporting the region’s post-Covid recovery.
A study by economics consultants Lichfields claims that a revived Gatwick would support the region’s economic diversification by making the area attractive to new and emerging industrial clusters, including digital, advanced manufacturing and green technologies.
Meanwhile, another new report – The Economic Impact of Gatwick Airport, published by economists Oxera – shows how the return of air traffic to levels forecast before the pandemic would support more than 50,000 new on-airport, supply chain and other business-related jobs across West and East Sussex, Surrey and Kent by 2028.
These new jobs would be in addition to the 69,000 jobs the airport was shown to provide during the pandemic in 2020.
The Oxera research also forecasts that Gatwick could generate up to £8.4 billion for the region’s economy by 2028 – compared to £4.1 billion GVA (gross value added) in 2020.
In response, Gatwick said it will continue to work with local partners and help the region attract new economic clusters and develop employment, skills, sustainable growth and supply chain initiatives.
These initiatives aim to support more jobs across the region than before and create apprenticeships and graduate programmes.
Stewart Wingate, Gatwick chief executive, said: “By working together, we can harness the extraordinary benefits the airport delivers to help the region rebuild, diversify and become more resilient following the devastating impact the pandemic has had on jobs, businesses and communities across the local area.”
In February, Gatwick said the collapse in passenger demand during 2020 led to a £465.5 million loss for year.
Passenger numbers fell 78% in the year ended 31 December, 2020, and staffing levels were cut by more than 40%.