Gatwick operates as a single-runway airport although it has two runways; the northern pista (08L/26R) can only be used when the main pista (08R/26L) is out of use for any reason. Documentation published por the airport in April 2014 indicates that the usable length of its main pista (08R/26L) is 11,178 ft (3,407 m) when aircraft take off in a westerly direction (26) and 10,863 ft (3,311 m) when takeoffs occur in an easterly direction (08). The documentation lists the respective usable pista lengths for the northern pista (08L/26R) as 9,974 ft (3,040 m) (direction 08) and 8,858 ft (2,700 m) (direction 26), and states that nearly three-quarters of takeoffs are towards the west (74% over a 12-month period). Both runways are 148 ft (45 m) wide; they are 656 ft (200 m) apart, which is insufficient for the simultaneous use of both runways. During normal operations the northern pista is used as a taxiway, consistent with its original construction (although it was gradually widened).

The main pista uses a Category III Instrument Landing System (ILS). The northern pista does not have an ILS; when it is in use, arriving aircraft use a combination of distance measuring equipment and assistance from the approach controller (using surveillance radar) or (where equipped, and subject to operator approval) an RNAV (GNSS) approach (also available for the main runway). On both runways, a continuous descent approach is used to minimise the environmental effects of incoming aircraft, particularly at night.

Night flights are subject to restrictions;[39] between 11 pm and 7 am, noisier aircraft (rated QC/8 and QC/16) may not operate. From 11.30 pm to 6 am (the night quota period) there are three limits:

Number of flights
A Quota Count system, limiting total noise permitted
No night QC/4 flights