Defiant Gatwick bosses have vowed to continue with expansion plans even though the airline industry is in turmoil and passenger figures are down.

Despite the continuing aftershocks of the September 11 terror attacks in the United States, the airport has announced it is continuing with a multi-million-pound strategy to develop its two terminals and facilities to cope with an estimated 40 million passengers by 2008.

Strategy planning director Alastair McDermid said: "Our plans are not affected at the moment.

"We are still committed to our sustainable development strategy but we are looking closely at events to decide what impact they could have on air-travel demand."

Passenger numbers at Gatwick were down 6.2 per cent last month compared with September 2000.

Numbers had been increasing until the attacks.

Mr McDermid warned the world situation could lead to slower passenger growth than expected, saying: "We are monitoring events to understand what the traffic impact will be.

"We expect the figure for this year to be less than last year's 32 million passengers."

Despite the conflict's detrimental effect on the industry, he expected the level of growth at the airport to get back on course when the uncertainty was over and things had calmed down.

The airport was still on course to go ahead with its scheme to build a £79 million bridge over an airport taxiway to allow passengers easier access to the north terminal.

Mr McDermid said the bridge was part of a £94 million package of improvements, which were due to be completed in 2003.