London Gatwick Airport has cleared its final legal hurdle to proceed with its £2.2bn ($3bn) second runway expansion. On 4 August 2026, the London Court of Appeal dismissed a final challenge by environmental campaigners, bringing an end to an intensive eight-year planning and legal dispute. The Court of Appeal ruling, handed down by Lord Justice Holgate and Lord Justice Dove, concluded that the legal grounds raised by activists were completely “unarguable” with “no real prospect of success”. Gatwick will not construct an entirely new landing strip but will instead reposition its existing emergency standby northern runway 12 metres north, allowing it to operate safely alongside the main runway. The second runway will be primarily dedicated to the departures of narrow-bodied aircraft, including the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737.