London, March 4 -- Gatwick airport's expansion plans have gained momentum with backing from a UK minister.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander stated she was "minded to approve" the project, provided adjustments are made.

In a ministerial statement, she outlined that a new consent-incorporating operational controls-would be required. She also emphasized the need for additional time to gather input from all parties before a final decision is made.

This comes after the Planning Inspectorate initially rejected the airport's application to bring its emergency runway into routine use.

The inspectorate had then recommended Ms Alexander should give the project the go-ahead if adjustments were made on issues such as the proportion of passenge...