The U.K. government has provided provisional approval to the creation of a second runway at Gatwick Airport outside London.

Britain is set to approve the expansion of Gatwick Airport, the government's transport minister said on Thursday, after she issued a "minded to approve" letter but said the deadline for a final decision would be extended to Oct.

Gatwick is the UK's second busiest airport and one of the busiest single-runway airports in the world. It is understood that Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has “set out a path to approving” Gatwi

Britain will decide on Thursday whether to allow Gatwick Airport to expand, a move that could add millions of extra passengers at the country's no.2 hub and help boost economic growth. With the government keen to greenlight infrastructure projects to revive a sluggish economy,

London Gatwick Airport expansion was given a green light today which will boost capacity by 30 million more passengers a year. The UK’s second-biggest airport welcomed a decision from the Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander this morning to bring its emergency runway into permanent use.

Gatwick has until April 24 to respond to the new proposals, with Ms Alexander anticipated to make a final decision shortly thereafter, although her deadline has been extended to October 27. The source stated: "The Transport Secretary has set out a path to approving the expansion of Gatwick today following the Planning Inspectorate's recommendation to refuse the original application.

Gatwick has said the second runway expansion would allow around 100,000 more flights per year and create 14,000 jobs.

London: The UK government Thursday signalled it will approve expansion of London s Gatwick airport pending closer examination of the proposed