Gatwick surpasses 45m annual passengers in busiest-ever June
Gatwick Airport's passenger figures rose for a 52nd consecutive month in June, with 4.4 million passengers travelling through the airport an increase of 5.6% on the same month last year bringing the airport's annual passenger total to a new record of 45.1 million.
Courtesy Gatwick Airport photographer Jeffrey Milstein
As Gatwick’s increased long-haul connections contributed to its passenger growth, the airport’s cargo also benefitted from this thriving long-haul network, with the amount handled up 20.6%.
During June, North Atlantic routes grew +10.6% with Californian destinations proving particularly popular and among the biggest growing routes with Oakland, San Francisco +227% and Los Angeles +51%, on last year.
Gatwick’s transatlantic boom shows no sign of slowing, with the airport recently announcing new routes to Seattle, Austin, Denver and Chicago all from Norwegian Air Shuttle. Meanwhile, China Airlines will start a four times weekly service to Taipei from 1 December 2017.
June’s figures provide the first insight into where Brits are choosing to spend their summer holidays this year, with popular destinations that passengers are jetting off to including Keflavik, Iceland +37.3%, Bermuda +30.6%, San Jose, Costa Rica +29.0%
Stewart Wingate, Chief Executive Officer, Gatwick Airport said: “We’re seeing strong passenger response to our new connections across the globe as we break through 45 million annual passengers for the first time ever. It’s a stark fact that Gatwick is the only airport in the world’s top 20 for passenger growth that has a single runway.
“We’re gearing up for our busiest summer yet, with once again lots of new things in store for our passengers, as we welcome Jamie Oliver bringing his new restaurant The Diner to the airport. Five years ago Jamie Oliver chose Gatwick to be his first airport restaurant and we’re delighted Gatwick is his destination of choice to yet again bring a new concept to.
“Plus, later this year, our new connections to Seattle, Austin, Denver, Chicago and Taipei will join our network of more than 60 long-haul routes as we continue to open up more connections to more parts of the world.”