Expansion at Gatwick Airport remains the only “deliverable option” according to chief executive Stewart Wingate.

The announcement follows the release of the Davies Commission report into aviation expansion in the south-east of England, which recommended expansion of London Heathrow Airport.

Wingate said: “Gatwick is still very much in the race.

“The commission’s report makes clear that expansion at Gatwick is deliverable. 

“It is for the commission to make a recommendation but it is of course for the government to decide.

“So we now enter the most important stage of the process.”

The commission earlier recommended a third runway be built at London Heathrow Airport to ease aviation congestion. 

While each of the three schemes shortlisted was considered a “credible option” for expansion, the commission unanimously concluded a new north-west runway at Heathrow Airport was its preferred option.

The Heathrow expansion represented the strongest case and offers the greatest strategic and economic benefits argued the commission, with the potential to provide around 40 new destinations from the airport and more than 70,000 new jobs by 2050.

In turn, the Gatwick scheme was seen as “feasible”, but there were concerns additional capacity would be more focused on short-haul intra-European routes and that the economic benefits would be considerably smaller.

Wingate added: “We are confident that when the government makes that decision they will choose Gatwick as the only deliverable option.

“For instance, this report highlights the very significant environmental challenges at Heathrow such as air quality and noise impact.

“Gatwick will give the country the economic benefits it needs and at the same time impact far less people.

“It is quicker simpler and quieter.

“Above all - after decades of delay - it can actually happen.”

Gatwick Airport is the UK’s second largest airport and the most efficient single-runway airport in the world.

It serves more than 200 destinations in 90 countries for over 38 million passengers a year on short and long-haul point-to-point services.