Just heard Gatwick airport won after a legal challenge and is opening a second runway. Does this mean cheaper flights and less chaos when I try to fly? When's this actually happening?
The second runway should theoretically ease congestion and give airlines more slots to work with, which *could* put downward pressure on prices over time, but honestly the benefit to passengers depends a lot on how airlines actually use that extra capacity - they might just pocket the gains rather than pass savings on. As for timing, these projects take years to actually build out, so don't expect immediate changes at the airport.
More runway capacity usually does mean airlines get more landing slots, so in theory there's less reason to hike prices just to manage demand, but realistically the savings won't show up overnight - airports and airlines tend to fill new capacity pretty quick before passing anything to passengers. The timeline's been dragging on for years, so don't expect major changes to your wallet or boarding experience anytime soon.
practical tip though: even with a second runway, flight prices still depend way more on when you book and how far ahead you travel than on airport capacity. book your flights on a Tuesday or Wednesday morning when fewer people are searching, and you'll probably save more than waiting for some theoretical runway-related price drop.
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