London Gatwick Airport has set a new record for a single-runway airport after serving more than 42 million passengers in the last 12 months.
The new record comes on the back of the airport’s busiest ever August, with 4.8 million passengers traveling through its terminals, an increase of 5.7% compared with August 2015. The airport has attributed the growth to a 25% rise in the number of passengers on its long-haul routes, with traffic on North Atlantic routes climbing by 51%.
Nick Dunn, chief financial officer, London Gatwick Airport, said, “Politically, economically and environmentally the case for Gatwick expansion has never been stronger. We’re expansion ready – with this summer our busiest ever and the results of our increased investment attracting new airlines including Cathay Pacific’s new route to Hong Kong.
“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 £5bn (US$6.7bn) 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.”