Record breaking traffic figures in March for Gatwick; expects to serve more than 40 million passengers next year

• Gatwick announces that it expects to serve more than 40 million passengers next year – a decade ahead of DfT predictions made in its January 2013 UK Aviation Forecast
• Record breaking traffic figures announced for March with 2.96 million passengers travelling through the airport – an increase of 9.2 per cent compared to the previous year
• The moving annual total shows 38.7 million passengers travelling through Gatwick between April 2014 and March 2015 – an increase of 7.8 per cent over the same period the previous year
• Gatwick CEO: “The figures speak for themselves – ours is the busiest runway in the world and we need to build a second runway to maximise the nation’s connectivity to the rest of the world”

	Month			Moving Annual Total
			Growth	Apr-14	Apr-13	Growth
	Mar-15	Mar-14	(%)	Mar-15	Mar-14	(%)
Total terminal passengers (000s)	2,958.1	2,708.4	9.2%	38,661.7	35,875.3	7.8%
Market Analysis:
UK + Channel Islands	300.1	307.9	(2.6)%	3,612.8	3,774.3	(4.3)%
Ireland	116.4	105.1	10.8%	1,305.3	1,273.1	2.5%
European scheduled	1,816.7	1,620.7	12.1%	25,326.8	22,985.8	10.2%
European charter	291.7	277.8	5.0%	3,214.2	2,963.0	8.5%
North Atlantic	117.6	100.5	17.0%	1,727.7	1,595.5	8.3%
Other long haul	315.6	296.4	6.5%	3,474.8	3,283.8	5.8%
Air transport movements	19,840	19,046	4.2%	257,485	249,697	3.1%
Cargo (metric tonnes)	7,891	7,525	4.9%	88,399	93,509	(5.5)%

Note: Origins and destinations are classified according to ultimate origin or destination of aircraft in the case of multi-sector flights.

LONDON, 2015-4-13 — /Travel PR News/ — Nearly three million passengers travelled through Gatwick Airport in March, a 9.2 per cent increase on last year, and the busiest March the airport has ever had in its 57-year history.

The March figures mark the 25^th consecutive month of growth. Gatwick now expects to serve more than 40 million passengers next year, which is more than a decade ahead of the DfT’s 2013 predictions.

Some 250,000 more passengers travelled through Gatwick in March compared to 2014. Passenger growth is the result of more air traffic movements per hour and larger aircraft being used on average across the airlines.

Long-haul traffic grew by 7.4 per cent, with Dubai the biggest growth route seeing passenger numbers increase by 14.7 per cent as Gatwick continues to serve high-growth markets. Emirates have taken advantage of the A380 facility that has been in place since March 2014 with passengers able to fly daily on the superjumbo.

European scheduled services increased 12.1 per cent over March 2014 with Barcelona the biggest growth destination and Geneva the biggest destination in terms of passenger numbers across the whole network.  The success of Geneva is largely because of the ski season.

March also saw the launch of two new airlines at Gatwick. Passengers are now able to benefit from Iberia Express flying direct to Madrid and SmartWings flying direct to Prague.

Gatwick Airport’s Chief Executive Officer, Stewart Wingate said: “March is our 25th consecutive month of growth, and in just one year we expect to hit more than 40 million passengers per year, which will see us reach this milestone a decade ahead of when the DfT forecasted we would.

“Our continued growth has limits, and we urge the new Government to act swiftly after the election to unlock the capacity challenges for the South East.  Expanding Gatwick would promote competition in the airport sector and keep travel affordable at a time of economic recovery. 

“The figures speak for themselves – we need to build a second runway in order to realise our potential andto maximise the nation’s connectivity to the rest of the world. Let us deliver against our promise to build a new runway sooner, at lower cost, and without the environmental obstacles that Heathrow would face.”

Notes to Editors:

The DfT January 2013 UK Aviation Forecast  – refer to Annex E.2, Page 158.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/223839/aviation-forecasts.pdf

For more information contact:

Gatwick Airport press office

t: + 44 (0) 1293 505000
e: gatwickmedia@gatwickairport.com

About London Gatwick
Gatwick Airport is the UK’s second largest airport and the most efficient single-runway airport in the world. It serves more than 200 destinations in 90 countries for more than 38 million passengers a year on short and long-haul point-to-point services. It is also a major economic driver for the South-East region, generating around 21,000 on-airport jobs and a further 10,000 jobs through related activities. The airport is 28 miles south of London with excellent public transport links, including the Gatwick Express. Gatwick Airport is owned by a group of international investment funds, of which Global Infrastructure Partners is the largest shareholder.

In its December 2013 interim report, the Airports Commission included London Gatwick and Heathrow on its shortlist of potential locations for a new runway in the UK. Expansion at Gatwick will best meet the UK’s aviation needs for the future, can provide the greatest economic boost with the least environmental impact, and a new runway can be operational by 2025. For further information, see: www.gatwickobviously.com

Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Gatwick_Airport

Subscribe to Notifications