A High Court judge has dealt a blow to Gatwick Airport's efforts to block relaxed runway slot allocation rules, rejecting its urgent application for an immediate freeze. The ruling means the government's temporary reduction of the 'use it or lose it' slot requirement will remain in force for now.
The airport had argued that the new rule would adversely affect its financial performance by giving airlines more flexibility to use their allocated slots without penalty. Gatwick relies heavily on regular flight movements to generate revenue through landing and take-off fees, with low-cost carriers being a significant presence at the hub.
Mr Justice Chamberlain cited disruptions to shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz as the reason for the government's decision to temporarily ease the slot usage requirement. He noted that Gatwick faced a high legal hurdle in proving the government had acted 'irrationally' in this urgent international situation.
The judge also pointed out that Gatwick, in its bid to protect its profits, had not offered to cover potential financial damage to others if its challenge ultimately failed. Although the airport later offered to cap its liability at £1 million and requested a freeze only for its own airport, Mr Justice Chamberlain deemed this too complex to decide without a proper hearing.
The legal proceedings will continue with a formal hearing scheduled for Monday to consider 'interim relief'. This will be followed by a 'rolled-up hearing' combining the decision on Gatwick's right to bring the lawsuit with the overall merits of the case, aiming to accelerate the judicial process.