Image credit: William Perugini / Shutterstock.com
Gatwick is being promoted as the solution to the UK’s “aviation capacity saga” as the airport announced its 34th consecutive month of traffic growth.
The airport saw annual passenger numbers hit a record 40.3 million in 2015 with December numbers up by 4.7% to 2.7 million. vThe figure for last year is claimed as a global record for a single runway airport.
An additional 120,578 passengers used Gatwick in December compared to the same month in 2014.
Passenger growth was the result of more air traffic movements per hour and larger aircraft being used by airlines. Average load factors were 78.5%.
Gatwick chief executive, Stewart Wingate, said: “2015 was a record-breaking year for Gatwick as the airport continued to break new ground.
“We served 40.3 million passengers – the most from any single runway anywhere in the world.”
“Since independent ownership in 2009 we have grown rapidly and the benefits of competition are clear for passengers – more choice, higher standards and lower fares.
“A government decision this year backing Gatwick expansion will mean that Britain finally solves its long standing problem of airport capacity in the south-east.
“Our plan is legal, affordable, cleaner and quieter and will deliver for Britain.”
The government has pushed back a decision on airport expansion until the summer as Gatwick vies with rival Heathrow for an additional runway.
Long-haul routes from Gatwick performed strongly last month with passenger carryings up 7.6% year-on-year with North Atlantic routes driving the growth with a 14.7% rise. Destinations contributing to this included Las Vegas up 53%, Los Angeles up 49.9% and Toronto up 22.8%.
Long-haul winter sun destinations also performed well with Goa up 25.6%, Jamaica up 7.7%, Dubai up 12.1% and Barbados up 11.3%.