18 October 2010
Gatwick Airport has been granted planning permission to operate the Airbus A380 by Crawley Borough Council. The airport has already invested £43 million in six new large aircraft stands, two of which can accommodate the A380. This will now put the airport on equal footing with Heathrow and Manchester airports, which are the only other two airports in the UK permitted to operate the aircraft.
Gatwick Airport operator, Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), hopes that with official approval it can increase its discussion with airlines that currently operate and have pending orders for the aircraft.