UK. London Gatwick Airport says it has set a single runway airport record for passengers handled during a 12-month period (September 2015 to August 2016), at 42 million.
The airport also reported its busiest-ever August with 4.8 million passengers served, up +5.7% year-on-year.
Long-haul routes were up +25%, with a +51% increase in North Atlantic routes driving the growth. Vancouver routes were +96%, Montreal +63%, and Los Angeles +51%.
Several long-haul summer holiday destinations such as Boa Vista, Cape Verde Islands (+64%), Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands (+42%) and Aruba (+29%) also saw strong growth. Among the most popular short-haul summer holiday destinations were Valencia (+56%), Tivat (+56%) and Gibraltar (+50%).
Routes to Ireland were up +13% while destinations in the UK and Chanel Islands grew +9%. Belfast International (+102%), Newquay (+39%) and Inverness (+18%) contributed to this growth.
Average load factors were “consistently strong” at 91%, the airport said.
Gatwick Chief Financial Officer Nick Dunn said: “Politically, economically and environmentally, the case for Gatwick expansion has never been stronger.
“Gatwick expansion would secure the same number of new routes and economic benefit Britain needs, can be delivered faster, with dramatically lower environmental impacts, and without the £5 billion of taxpayer funding Heathrow would require for surface access improvements.
“Momentum is with Gatwick as business leaders and politicians continue to unite behind us. Post-referendum, Britain needs certainty – Gatwick’s straightforward scheme which can be promptly delivered makes it the only choice.”
