Its latest capital investment programme will bring Gatwick’s total spendin, since the change of ownership in 2009 through to 2022, to £2.7bn.

Plans include a new £10m hangar in partnership with Boeing, extending Pier 6 and a new domestic arrivals facility in the South Terminal and around £100m to be spent increasing car parking capacity.

According to Gatwick’s major development projects overview, several projects have been brought forward and include the £66m resurfacing of the main runway, which has been accelerated by one year in line with a recent Mott MacDonald recommendation.

Work on Pier 6 to almost double its size will start in 2017/18 and complete in spring 2022 at a cost of £150m.

Gatwick’s construction director Raymond Melee said: “Since coming into independent ownership Gatwick has delivered record growth in passenger numbers and long haul services while also taking passenger satisfaction levels to an all-time high.

“As we plan to grow towards 50 million passengers per annum, we will focus on efficiency and service.

“These projects will be delivered in a way that will help us realise our ambition to become the UK’s most sustainable airport.

“Regarding future runway expansion, our financable and deliverable scheme for a second runway remains on the table.

“We will deliver a new runway for Britain in addition to or instead of Heathrow, should the government give us its support now or in the future.”