GATWICK Airport has rejected suggestions the UK needs a 'hub' airport and says current airport space should be used to increase connectivity.
The airport's chief executive, and other senior officers, believe the UK must focus on making the most of exisiting flight routes and capacity at the current airports in the short term, rather than looking to develop a central hub airport.
Their comments form part of the airport's response to a paper on connectiviety and economy, published by the Airport Commission - the government body responsible for the country's air travel.
Gatwick's response urged the Commission to reject suggestions that one 'hub' airport is the only way to develop routes to new destinations, highlighting the fact that Gatwick already serves half of thw world's fastest growing economies.
Chief executive of Gatwick Airport, Stewart Wingate, said: "It is true we will need additional capacity in the future.
"Without it, connectivity will be severely affected and the passenger experience will be impacted by unacceptable delays and rising prices.
"However, relentless suggestions that traditional 'hubs' are the answer is misleading.
"Evidence shows that the London market is predominantly an origins and destinations market which means that most passengers begin or end their journey in London.
"A mega-hub airport therefore would be yesterday's solution to tomorrow's problem.
"We must not be blindly led to believe that because some of our European competitors serve more marginal routes to emerging markets, that we are falling behind them or that this is happening because Heathrow is full.
"If real competition is allowed to flourish, as it has at Gatwick, new routes will be created where there is market demand.
"For example, already this year Gatwick has added a route to Indonesia, demonstrating that competition is capable of delivering the connectivity needed by London and the UK."
The latest Gatwick Masterplan outlined that the airport will not be operating at full capacity until at least 2020, meaning there is space to develop new destinations onthe existing site.
