Business leaders will continue to push for a second runway at Gatwick despite its new owner ruling it out for the foreseeable future.

The new owner of the airport has been shedding more light on its intentions in recent weeks, which also include attempting to poach airlines from rival airports and improving check-in areas, security and baggage handling.

But Gatwick chairman Sir David Rowlands told passenger advisory group GATCOM that trying to build a second runway at the moment would waste millions of pounds because there was no Government backing for the project.

He said Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), which bought the airport fromBAAlate last year for £1.5 billion, intended to honour the current agreement forbidding another runway from being built by 2019.

Even if the government of the day supports a second runway after this date, a spokeswoman for Gatwick said the idea would have to be looked at “extremely carefully” because of the size of investment it would require.

Jeremy Taylor, chairman of Cadia, the Gatwick Diamond business association, agreed it would be “foolish” for GIP to pursue a second runway at present but said he was hopeful its attitude would change after 2019.

He added: “GIP will not be interested in a second runway for as long as it’s not Government policy.

“That makes sense because without the Government’s backing it would be a waste of time.

“On behalf of the business community we will be working to ensure the Government puts a second runway at Gatwick firmly on its agenda because we believe it is vital for the area.

“Once we get it on the agenda I hope the new owners will see they are involved in making sure the runway is delivered.”

Mark Froud, chief executive at Sussex Enterprise, said: “We believe Gatwick is still the most suitable location in the South East for an extra runway and we will continue to follow the Government’s plans for airport expansion as they progress.

“In the meantime, it is vital that the new owners of the airport are committed to investing in Gatwick to secure its future.”

In an interview with the Financial Times, Gatwick’s newchief executive, Stewart Wingate, said the airport was gearing itself up to compete against Heathrow and Stansted, promising to contact airlines based at rival airports in a bid to woo away their business.

Mr Taylor welcomed this aggressive stance, adding: “Iamexcited about the prospect of seeing a competitive and combative Gatwick, which is looking to re-establish itself as the second gateway to London and serve the business destinations, long-haul and short-haul, that the South East economy needs.”