ON THE SOAPBOX: Stewart Wingate

From today,1 September, Stewart Wingate becomes Managing Director, UK Airports for VINCI Airports and Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) including London Gatwick, Edinburgh and Belfast International airports. He took up the position as Chief Executive at London Gatwick in 2010, and is now moving on to a newly created role overseeing the three UK airports.

Wingate (53), born in Bishop Stortford, is an ardent Newcastle United fan. Over the years he has been a regular supporter of Travel News Update (TNU), and its predecessor Business Travel News (BTN).

Taking over at London Gatwick is Pierre-Hugues Schmit, previously Chief Commercial and Operational Officer at VINCI Airports and a Non-executive Director on the London Gatwick board.  

“The critical final decision on our Northern Runway plans is just weeks away and follows a rigorous and lengthy planning process.  If the Northern Runway plan is approved, it will unlock 14,000 new jobs and add an additional £1bn in economic benefits every year at 2025 prices.

I remain optimistic the Secretary of State will give the go-head for our privately financed, shovel-ready plans to unlock further growth for London Gatwick and the UK economy, generating new jobs and trade and tourism opportunities for generations to come.

More airlines (58) are flying from the airport than ever before, as a growing long-haul network continues to provide the UK with a gateway to global trading markets, including more than 50 long-haul flights a week to the Middle East, 39 to Africa and 36 to China. These include the UK’s only direct connections to emerging markets in Uganda and Kenya, with Wizz Air’s new XLR aircraft providing low cost, long-haul services to Jeddah and Medinah. The airport has also launched and is leading development of the UK’s first ‘airport economic zone’ to stimulate growth across a region representing 7% of the UK economy (£155bn).

In the last 12 months the airport significantly improved its on-time performance, following excellent collaboration with airline partners and National Air Traffic Services (NATS). The airport also hit 100% of its agreed service metrics, getting passengers through security in five minutes or less 98% of the time, following a £60m investment to become fully compliant with the Department for Transport’s mandate to install next generation security screening technology. The airport’s special assistance service also received the top Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) rating in June.

A £7m investment to refurbish the South Terminal and enhance the departure lounge experience for passengers is nearing completion, and a new 3,000 space, mid-stay multi-storey car park now provides passengers with convenient access to the North Terminal.

Earlier this year London Gatwick became the world’s first single-runway airport to adopt NATS’ new Intelligent Approach which dynamically and safely separates aircraft by time, rather than using set distances, and is forecast to increase resilience, reduce delays, and cut carbon emissions.  The airport also demonstrated its ongoing commitment to decarbonising the aviation sector by issuing a second sustainability-linked bond to the markets, based on achieving two carbon reduction targets.

A new contract with a specialist renewable energy provider will also advance the airport’s ambitious £250m net zero programme by decarbonising heating and eliminating natural gas in 50 airport buildings, including the North and South terminals. The first 47 out of what will be a 300-strong EV fleet were also delivered during the period, alongside a £14m investment in 14 electric buses.

I leave the day-to-day running of London Gatwick in very capable hands and look forward to working with Pierre-Hugues.”  

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