Almost 600,000 passengers are expected to use Gatwick in a record-breaking August bank holiday weekend.
Bank holiday passengers have increased by 17.2% since the airport became independent from the former BAA in 2009.
Berlin is the fastest growing route since last August’s bank holiday with numbers up by 54%, followed by Madrid, up 26% and Istanbul, up 22%.
Long-haul leisure destinations are also proving popular with Orlando up 15%, Las Vegas, up 8% and Cancun, up 5% on this time last year.
The top ten bank holiday destinations from Gatwick are Barcelona, Palma, Malaga, Faro, Dublin, Alicante, Orlando, Dalaman, Madrid and Dubai.
Gatwick chief financial officer, Nick Dunn, said: “Our record-breaking bank holiday figures show that competition is a great thing for passengers.
“In the short space of time since becoming independent, we have become an airport of choice offering more destinations than any other UK airport.
“Our long-haul destinations are growing fastest of the routes we serve and, with routes to Costa Rica and Peru – which will be the UK’s only direct flights to Lima – and new services to Canada starting next year, Gatwick continues to show that it is well placed to meet the needs of travellers.”