Of course it will all have to go back in the mix if the Southeast's new runway ends up being built at Gatwick instead.
The word "instead" would make this a catastophe. The result: LHR, the UK's hub airport, would remain hampered and LGW would have oodles of capacity like STN. Traffic that wants to use LHR would end up at AMS, CDG and FRA.
Agree that it's a possibility that should not be discounted, but what exactly would be the point?
Indeed! I can't see why they couldn't just give permission for LGW and LHR to BOTH build an extra runway and let them have at it...best man (airport) wins! But that's a discussion for another thread, I suspect
No question who would come out on top: LHR would wipe the floor with LGW because it is the UK's hub. This implies
no disrespect for LGW!