Gatwick Airport’s total terminal passenger numbers grew by +8.5% to 4.1m in June 2016. while its 12-month moving annual total reached 41.4m in the same month, a +6.1% growth rate.

 

Airport management claims that the airport’s long-haul growth has been most notable at +24% in what it describes as the busiest June on record. At the same time, the airport was also recognised as the facility with the most new long-haul routes over the last 12 months, according to aviation news and analysis organisation anna.aero.

 

[See: http://www.trbusiness.com/regional-news/europe/gatwick-top-in-europe-for-new-long-haul-routes/107212].

 

WESTJET MAKES A BIG IMPACT

North Atlantic routes at the airport grew 56.2% in June 2016 to 283,800 with Toronto routes +109% and Vancouver routes +118%. Both represent recent route additions from WestJet as part of its 28 new weekly flights to six Canadian destinations.

 

 

EUROPEAN SCHEDULED STILL LEADS

European scheduled traffic remained the engine room at the airport, however, accounting for a 6.9% rise in passenger numbers to 2,881.2 in June. This sector also grew by 7.2% to 27.4m on the 12 months to June 2016.

 

The airport noted that business destinations proving popular in June included Paris (+80%) and Prague (+60%) when measured on a year-on-year basis.

 

By contrast, popular holiday destinations included Burgas in Bulgaria, Almeria in Spain and Kavala in Greece which all grew by +90%, +55% and +54% respectively.

 

Meanwhile, strong growth was also seen from Gatwick’s regional connections across the UK, which grew 7.4% as a whole, with Belfast routes +103%, Newquay +34% and Inverness +13% year on year. Average load factors remained consistently strong at 88%.

 

 

GATWICK IN EXPANSION MODE…

Commenting on the results, Gatwick Airport CEO Stewart Wingate said: “June’s passenger figures are the latest part of Gatwick’s ongoing long-haul success story, demonstrating once again the unrivalled potential that an expanded Gatwick would deliver for Britain – providing an operational runway by 2025 with reduced environmental impacts and no taxpayer funding.

 

“We’re seeing strong growth right across the board – be it from our regional connections, business routes or holiday destinations – especially our long-haul destinations which have rocketed this month by 24% year on year.

 

“This month saw the arrival of Tianjin Airlines’ route to China and in just weeks Cathay Pacific will commence flights to Hong Kong, joined by British Airways’ service to Cape Town this autumn.”