The operator confirmed its £180m Pier 6 Expansion project will be mothballled until 2022.

In a statement this morning the airport said: “Work completed on the enabling works for this programme during the period – including taxiway alignment and stand reconfiguration- and construction works on the main extension to Pier 6 began.

“However, this programme is now in the process of being put on hold with a view to restarting again in 2022 in line with anticipated airline growth and up gauging of the airline fleets.

Bechtel was delivering the £180m scheme, which when eventually complete will include an extra eight A321 compatible gates.

Gatwick added: “Following the impact of Covid-19, the group has reviewed its Capital Investment Programme and plans to publish an updated version later in the year.

“Over half of the projects already in delivery have been stopped, with only operationally critical projects continuing or those that are near to completion.”

On the airfield programme planned taxiway and runway rehabilitation was completed ahead of schedule due to reduced operational activity on the runway.

But the project to design a new rapid exit taxiway aimed at improving the resilience of the operation of the runway and on-time performance has been put on hold.

While construction of the rail station expansion is continuing, Gatwick has worked successfully with Network Rail and the other funding bodies to re-phase the Airport’s financial contribution.

The airport operator confirmed it would still press ahead with work to submit a planning application to bring its existing standby runway into routine use as a longer term solution to raising capacity.

If permission were granted, the runway could be brought into daily use by the mid-2020s.