Gatwick achieves biggest-ever month in its 80 year history, reaffirming expansion case

The UK’s second largest airport has achieved the busiest single month in its 80 year history, reaffirming the Gatwick expansion case after as 4.6m passengers travelled through the airport in July, +6.9% on the same month last year.

Long-haul routes continue their impressive growth at the airport, growing 23% collectively versus last July, against a backdrop of traffic growth stalling at other major European airports, as reported by the Airports Council International this week. North Atlantic routes grew 49.9% with Toronto routes +106.4%, Calgary routes +120.8% and Vancouver routes +85.4%. All are new destinations served by WestJet as part of their 28 flights weekly to destinations in Canada from Gatwick. Other Atlantic destinations proving popular include Los Angeles +41%, Puerto Vallarta Mexico +29% and Orlando +11%.

Gatwick Airport, Chief Executive Officer, Stewart Wingate said:

“Gatwick’s continued long-haul growth – +23% year-on-year – and strong cargo growth are the latest proof that competition in the London airports’ market is working.

“As the 41.7million passengers flying with us in the last year have seen, Gatwick is undergoing a massive transformation. The brand new images we have revealed today provide a unique aerial perspective on the world’s most-efficient single runway airport which is also in the premier league of airports with more than 50 long-haul routes.

Recent months at Gatwick have also seen an increase in cargo volumes up 31% on average of every month of the last quarter. Gatwick expansion will support significant growth in cargo which is forecast to reach 1,070,000 tonnes by 2050. The growth in long haul markets will provide more opportunity for choice and competition within the air freight market.

Summer holiday destinations growing strongly in July included Tivat Montenegro +73%, with easyJet having launched flights to the destination this year, Bilbao, Spain +69%, Pula Croatia +64%, Cagliari, Sardinia +56% and Chania, Crete +55% versus July 2015. Strong growth was also seen in July from Gatwick’s regional connections with Belfast +90%, Newquay + 39.8% and Inverness +18.0%.

Average load factors were consistently strong at 90%. 

To celebrate this landmark in the airport’s history, Gatwick has released a stunning collection of new aerial imagery from acclaimed New York photographer Jeffrey Milstein, providing a brand new aerial perspective on Gatwick.

·         Gatwick achieves busiest-ever month in its 80 year history as long-haul routes continue their impressive growth, +23% on July 2015

·         Gatwick also records strong cargo growth illustrating the airport’s growing export role for Britain 

·         To celebrate this landmark month in Gatwick’s history, a stunning collection of new Gatwick aerial imagery is today released by acclaimed New York photographer Jeffrey Milstein providing a brand new aerial perspective on Gatwick