Gatwick Airport expects annual traffic to grow to 40 million passengers over the next 10 years – up from 33.6 million in 2011.
A new draft master plan for the airport estimates Gatwick could handle around 45 million passengers on its single runway and two terminals by 2030.
“The rate of growth in traffic is lower than previously disclosed, reflecting current economic conditions and outlook,” the airport said. The new long term traffic forecasts came as Gatwick said passenger numbers in the six months to September 30 grew by 8.5% to 19.7 million.
Underlying traffic growth is estimated at 3.3% after the impact of the Icelandic ash cloud disruption in April last year which prevented an estimated 600,000 passengers from flying. The previous half-year period was also affected by strike action at British Airways, operational problems at EasyJet and European air traffic control strikes.
“Lowcost carriers in Gatwick’s largest market – European scheduled – have made the most significant contribution towards the period-on-period increase,” the airport said. “Factors such as the number of public holidays in April drove increases to the passenger numbers.
“Travellers getting abroad over the Easter holidays took advantage of a late Easter holiday weekend, the additional holiday to mark the royal wedding and the early May bank holiday.”
It added: “Gatwick Airport Limited indicated in June 2011 that it expected a total of 33.6 million passengers to travel through Gatwick in the year ending 31 March 2012.
“While passenger numbers are ahead of expectations for the six months ended 30 September 2011, Gatwick Airport Limited maintains an annual expectation of 33.6 million passengers.”