London Gatwick Airport welcomed 46 million annual passengers in the last 12 months, the first time this annual milestone has been reached, while simultaneously reducing the number of local residents within the airport’s noise footprint.
The area in the airport’s noise footprint, the standard measurement 57dB leq contour, has reduced by 9% since 2008 while numbers of flights in the last decade have grown 9%. This reduction has been driven by many of the airport’s new routes being flown by new generation aircraft, for example the Airbus A320neo (pictured), which are up to 50% quieter on departure than the current models which they are replacing.
New generation aircraft, such as the Airbus A320neo, will be phased in over coming years so that Gatwick estimates around 30% of its fleet will comprise new, quieter aircraft by 2022, 60% by 2027 and 90% by 2032.
Gatwick has seen a 41% increase in passenger numbers in the last eight years, driven by the airport’s new global connections; long-haul passenger numbers grew 21.3% in the last year alone, and the last 12 months saw Gatwick’s highest-ever customer satisfaction levels in the airport’s passenger survey.
In response to passenger demand for Gatwick’s global connectivity, the airport has published its draft masterplan, setting out the airport’s vision for growth to the 2030s. The airport is now keen to encourage responses to a 12-week public consultation it has launched to gather feedback and views on the draft masterplan.
The consultation is live until 05:00pm on January 10, 2019, and can be completed at www.gatwickairport.com/masterplan2018.
All responses will be reviewed before a final version of the masterplan is agreed next year.
London Gatwick chief executive officer Stewart Wingate said, “We are delighted to have welcomed 46 million passengers to Gatwick in the last year, which is testament to the hard work and innovation of all staff working at the airport.
“At Gatwick we work hard with our airlines to ensure that the higher passenger numbers using the airport, attracted by new and improved services, are balanced by noise improvements for our local neighbors. Our ambition to be the UK’s most sustainable airport has already seen us become the first carbon-neutral London airport and the first airport to achieve zero waste to landfill.
“In response to passenger demand for Gatwick’s global connectivity, we have published the airport’s draft masterplan, setting out our vision for growth to the 2030s. We are now seeking feedback from the public, including our local neighbors and our airport partners on this draft masterplan, as we seek to fulfil our role for the country, in the most sustainable way.”