Gatwick has busiest ever May
Gatwick just had its busiest ever May - the airport's 51st consecutive month of growth with more than four million passengers passing through the airport - 6.7% up on the previous year.
The highest ever number of business passengers also passed through Gatwick last month.
The airport’s network of more than 50 long haul routes is driving this growth with North American destinations showing particular strength - up 13% - with 15 cities on the US and Canada now served from Gatwick. Top destinations last month included LA (+48%), Fort Lauderdale (+125%) and Calgary (+43%).
The number of business passengers also hit an all-time high with 782,000 business trips made during May. The amount of cargo handled by the airport was also up 18.9%, with goods carried in the ‘bellies’ of long haul flights again driving this growth.
Gatwick’s long haul network is set to grow further when the world’s longest low cost long haul route – Norwegian’s Gatwick to Singapore – launches in September, with the airline also starting new services to both Seattle and Denver in the same month.
Load factors at Gatwick also hit 85% in May, up from 83.1% at the same time last year.
Stewart Wingate, Gatwick’s CEO, said: “There is real momentum behind Gatwick’s growth as records tumble month after month. Our continued growth shows that we are an airport that delivers for everyone whether travelling for business or leisure and flying short or long haul, Gatwick has a choice of airlines and destinations unrivalled in the UK.
“The airport’s long haul network has grown significantly and the results benefit both leisure passengers and also the country as global trade becomes increasingly important for the UK economy.
“With this in mind, Gatwick stands ready to build a credible and deliverable new runway should the Government give us the green light to proceed.”