Response from Gatwick Airport
Ahead of the publication of the Transport Committee
report "Keeping the UK moving: The impact on transport
of the winter weather in December 2010" I wanted to raise
an issue of great importance to Gatwick with you.
I must query the accuracy of conclusion/recommendation
number 11 on page 27:
"Criticism that major airports under-invested
in winter resilience equipment would appear to be borne out by
the substantial investments by the owners of both Gatwick and
Heathrow Airports in such equipment after December's disruption"
In Gatwick's case that is not entirely accurate.
Our substantial investments were not made after December 2010,
but rather were part of an ongoing programme throughout the year.
Following our learning from winter 2009/10, the investment
Gatwick made, in the first year of new ownership, in snow clearance
equipment made a vital difference in enabling the airport to respond
more swiftly and minimise the impact of snow. This included visits
to Scandinavian airports during spring 2010 to view the equipment
used at Oslo, Stockholm and Helsinki airports and, in summer 2010,
an additional £600,000 investment to upgrade our fleet.
Conclusion/recommendation number 11 originates in
report paragraph 36 on page 15. However I believe that paragraph
36 outlines clear views from British Airways and Winter Resilience
Review Chairman David Quarmby, on the contrast between the UK's
two biggest airports, as well as criticism by the Board of Airline
Representatives about Heathrow's "inadequate" investment
in snow clearing vehicles. There is no mention of any criticism
of Gatwick Airport in relation to winter resilience investment.
We have been in contact with the Committee Clerk
and he has advised that we could consider highlighting our concerns
to you and other members in writing. Furthermore he advised that
the Committee may publish our letter in due course.
We appreciate that. However I would be grateful if
this letter could be published promptly.
I am sure you are conscious that many observers may
focus only on the report's conclusions and recommendations and
so not fully glean an understanding of the broader context about
preparation, planning and hard work put in by airport and airline
staff at Gatwick.
You will appreciate that we are keen to ensure clarity
on this matter.
The Transport Committee has accepted an invitation
to visit Gatwick in late June. I will be happy to arrange for
you and the other members to view our winter resilience equipment
and to give you an overview of our long-standing command and control
contingency process.
| 
