London Gatwick Airport’s single runway handled a record total of 43.1m passengers in calendar year 2016, representing a +7.1% increase on the previous year.

 

Gatwick management says proudly that it has once again increased its margin against all other airports in the world as the most efficient single-runway airport, finishing last year with 3.1m passengers in December 2016 – a rise of +15% on the same month in 2015.

 

Highlights of the year included long-haul passenger growth +26.8%, alongside an increase in cargo handling of +13.3%. Airport management said that the new 12-month passenger handling record was broken on 22 December 2016, helped considerably by Gatwick’s booming long-haul services, which increased by 26.8%. Alongside these long-haul passenger services Gatwick also reported a +13.3% rise in metric cargo tonnage.

 

FASTEST GROWING PASSENGER DESTINATIONS

Today, the airport also released its fastest growing passenger destinations during 2016, with Toronto emerging as the long-haul destination with the biggest passenger increase of 191,124 passengers (+97%) in 2016, versus the previous year.

 

However, Belfast International registered the biggest increase in passenger numbers, an increase of 388,486 passengers (+83%), versus 2015.

 

Meanwhile, this year the airport is forecasting that the most popular long-haul destinations will include Barbados, Dubai, Jamaica, Las Vegas, New York, Orlando and Vancouver, whilst in short-haul it expects Amsterdam, Edinburgh, Barcelona and Venice to lead the way.

 

’14 YEARS AHEAD OF FORECASTS’

Commenting on the results, Gatwick Airport CEO Stewart Wingate said: “Three million more passengers are travelling through the airport this year versus the same time last year, with 43m passengers now passing through the airport annually. A figure that puts us 14 years ahead of industry predictions.

 

“This milestone is an impressive conclusion to 2016, the year that saw the 80th anniversary of the very first flight from Gatwick.

 

 

“Gatwick’s booming long-haul services and increased cargo volumes illustrate the vital contribution the airport continues to make to the local and national economy in the airport’s busiest-ever December – as we continue to offer the UK Government a credible and deliverable option for runway expansion.”