Gatwick Airport achieves 24 percent growth in long-haul routes

Latest figures suggest long-haul routes at Gatwick Airport have increase 24 percent year-on-year, reinforcing its position in the airport expansion battle.

Gatwick Airport is celebrating its busiest June on record with an 8.5 percent growth in passenger numbers compared to the same period last year. In addition, the airport experienced 24 percent growth in long-haul routes.

North Atlantic routes at the airport grew 56 percent year on year in June.  Contributing to this North Atlantic growth were Toronto routes +109 percent and Vancouver routes +118 percent, two recent new route additions from WestJet as part of their twenty eight new weekly flights to six destinations in Canada.

North Atlantic routes at Gatwick grew 56 percent year on year

European business destinations proving popular in June included Paris +80 percent and Prague +60 percent year on year.

Whilst holiday destinations Burgas, Bulgaria, Almeria, Spain and Kavala, Greece grew by +90 percent, +55 percent and +54 percent respectively. 

Meanwhile, strong growth was also seen from Gatwick’s regional connections across the UK which grew 7.4 percent as a whole with Belfast routes +103 percent, Newquay +34 percent and Inverness +13 percent year on year.

Average load factors remained high at 88 percent.

Gatwick Airport, Chief Executive Officer, Stewart Wingate said:  “June’s passenger figures are the latest part of Gatwick’s ongoing long-haul success story demonstrating once again the unrivalled potential that an expanded Gatwick would deliver for Britain – providing an operational runway by 2025 with reduced environmental impacts and no taxpayer funding.

“We’re seeing strong growth right across the board – be it from our regional connections, business routes or holiday destinations – especially our long haul destinations which have rocketed this month by 24 percent year on year.

“This month saw the arrival of Tianjin Airlines’ route to China and in just weeks Cathay Pacific will commence flights to Hong Kong, joined by British Airways’ service to Cape Town this autumn. June’s results show the benefits a two runway Gatwick would provide for Britain – guaranteed growth with reduced environmental impacts and no taxpayer funding. Let’s get on with it and deliver for Britain.”