Gatwick has no plans to extend its capacity cap beyond this month as the airport returns to normal operations.
The disclosure is in contrast with Heathrow, which announced the extension of its current daily cap on passenger numbers to the end of the summer schedule on October 29 last week.
Gatwick revealed that 400 new security staff have been recruited, with the airport providing baggage handling staff to support other operators on the airport, “as part of a continuous effort to return to high standard service levels”.
The airport reported “cautious optimism” with air traffic forecasts revised up for 2022. However, it cautioned that uncertainty remains over the macro-economic climate.
Gatwick swung back into profit in the first half of the year following the lifting of Covid travel curbs as it handled 13.1 million passengers.
The airport achieved an after tax profit of £50.6 million in the six months as passenger demand returned to 59.1% of pre-pandemic levels, rising to almost 75% in the second quarter.
“Strong passenger demand and encouraging air traffic volumes following the lifting of all UK travel restrictions in March 2022 has accelerated Gatwick’s recovery from the devastating impacts of the pandemic,” the airport said.
Gatwick has revised its traffic forecasts for 2022 to 32.8 million passengers as a result of increased demand in the first six months of the year.
But the airport “notes that continued macro-economic uncertainty, including inflationary pressures on costs and passenger demand for the winter season, may impact these forecasts.”
Gatwick’s recovery has seen its long-haul network grow with 40 routes announced, including new airlines such as Norse Atlantic and Bamboo flying to New York and Hanoi respectively, British Airways to Cape Town and Jetblue adding daily flights to Boston, in addition to New York. WestJet and Air Transat are also flying to destinations across Canada, while both BA and Tui are running other long-haul services to the US, Mexico and the Caribbean.
Gatwick chief executive Stewart Wingate said: “We still have some considerable way to go, but strong demand has fast-tracked Gatwick’s recovery from the pandemic, particularly in the last quarter since all UK travel restrictions were removed.
“Air traffic volumes have reflected this strong passenger demand and have bounced back to around 75% of pre-Covid levels.
“The unprecedented growth in traffic lead to short term operational issues in June, however our decisive early action to limit the airport’s capacity in the crucial school holiday period of July and August has ensured passengers have experienced reliable flight timetables over the summer months.
“We are now very much operating business as usual and do not see any reason to extend the capacity declaration.”
He added: “Despite some broad economic uncertainty, we are also looking forward to a successful second half to the year, with new, exciting airlines and routes coming on stream and continuous improvement in the high service standards Gatwick is known for.”