Gatwick reports +22% long-haul growth and busiest-ever October

UK. London Gatwick Airport has reported soaring +22% year-on-year growth on long-haul routes in October.

Overall growth was +7.1% during the month, to 3.9 million passengers, making it the airport’s busiest-ever October.

Gatwick said long-haul growth was driven by North Atlantic routes (+44.4%), with New York (+121%), Los Angeles (+56%) and Vancouver (+32%) particularly strong.

UK and Ireland routes grew +6.4% with Belfast +85%, Newquay +31% and Inverness +13%.

The airport also announced a new connection to Xi’an in China through Tianjin Airlines, making it the UK’s only direct route to the city. Xi’an is home to the Terracotta Army UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Tianjin Airlines will also increase its existing Tianjin and Chongqing services from Gatwick to three services a week, and provide a direct onward connection to Auckland, New Zealand, via Chongqing.

Gatwick’s growth meant it charted among the top five fastest growing airports in Europe, as recorded in Airport Council International figures.

“Gatwick’s record passenger numbers, booming long-haul growth, and growing cargo volumes continue to be a vital economic driver for our area, our region, and for the national economy,” said Gatwick Airport Chief Executive Officer Stewart Wingate.

“Our long-haul services are growing right across the board. There is increased frequency on existing routes and our airlines are starting new routes.

“This latest route announcement adds to the airport’s line up of long-haul routes which have started this year to China, Peru, Canada, Costa Rica, Nigeria, as well as the US, which will further increase in November with new routes to Moscow and Cape Town.”