Communities and stakeholders invited to have their say on London Gatwick’s Route 4 Airspace Change Proposal

• 14-week public consultation on proposals for reintroducing satellite-based navigational procedures to Route 4 – one of nine departure routes from London Gatwick
• Proposal forms part of a UK government programme to modernise the UK’s airspace

London Gatwick is inviting communities and stakeholders to have their say on options for the future operation of Route 4 – one of the departure routes for aircraft flying out of the Airport – as part of an Airspace Change Proposal (ACP). 

The 14-week public consultation seeks to gather feedback from communities and stakeholders on proposals for reintroducing satellite-based navigational procedures to Route 4. 

Route 4 is one of nine departure routes from London Gatwick. Planes flying Route 4 take-off in a westerly direction from the main runway, before turning 180 degrees northwards and heading east to their final destination. 

As part of a UK government programme to modernise the UK’s airspace, airports are required to adopt new navigational procedures which use modern, satellite-based technology.  

The original Route 4 airspace change was initiated in 2012 and satellite-based navigational procedures were first introduced on all nine departure routes from the Main Runway at London Gatwick, including Route 4, in 2013. However, due to regulatory and legal challenges, this technology was subsequently withdrawn on Route 4 in 2019.  

Since then, London Gatwick has undertaken extensive work to progress an ACP to reintroduce the new navigational procedures on Route 4 and overcome issues identified in the legal challenge. 

The reintroduction of satellite-based navigational procedures on Route 4 is essential because the ground-based infrastructure which supports conventional navigation is gradually being phased out as part of a national modernisation programme. All of London Gatwick’s other arrival and Main Runway departure routes have already successfully adopted the new navigation procedures. 

In addition to being a regulatory requirement, the proposals could also help to deliver benefits for some communities including reduced noise and environmental impacts. 

A public consultation on the four shortlisted options for the future operation of Route 4 will run from Tuesday 20 January 2026 to 23:59 on Tuesday 28 April 2026. There are a range of ways to take part in the consultation, learn more about the shortlisted options for Route 4, and comment on the proposals.

Visit the consultation website to view the graphics including animations of the different options for route 4, checkout the dates and times of drop in meetings and Have your Say.