Gatwick Airport has been granted planning permission to operate the world’s largest passenger plane – the 555-seat Airbus A380 superjumbo.

The green light means it is possible that British Airways and Virgin Atlantic – which have both ordered the giant aircraft – will operate the A380 from the West Sussex airport.

Until now, Heathrow and Manchester had been the only UK airports able to accommodate the superjumbo, which was first flown commercially by Singapore Airlines in October 2007.

Gatwick has already spent £43 million getting ready for the A380.

The airport’s chief executive officer Stewart Wingate said: “The Airbus A380 represents the future of long-haul aviation. It’s modern, more efficient and uses less fuel per passenger, and we want Gatwick to be at the centre of this exciting new era of long-haul travel.

“We are pouring £1 billion into Gatwick to improve the infrastructure, modernise the airport facilities, improve customer service, bolster the rail links and drive competitive rates for airlines to encourage more passengers and airlines to the airport.

“If we can bring the A380 and other large aircraft to Gatwick, passengers will have even more reason to choose to fly to and from our airport and help us on our journey to becoming the London airport of choice.”