Global record: 42 million annual passengers put Gatwick in a league of its own

Gatwick Airport is now in a league of its own as it breaks its own record for the number of passengers travelling on a single runway - more than 42 million passengers now travel through the airport annually.

This new record was achieved on the same weekend that Cathay Pacific's new route to Hong Kong joins the airport's wide range of long-haul connections, further boosting Gatwick's links to China and the Far East.

With 4.8 million passengers travelling through the airport in August, +5.7% on last year, Gatwick's expansion plans have also been boosted by significant political and business support over the summer.

Momentum continues to build behind Gatwick expansion with:

• heavyweight political support from the Mayor of London who visited the airport to announce his full support Gatwick expansion
• establishment of the Gatwick Growth Board headed up by former Minister for London and the Olympics Baroness Tessa Jowell and former Transport Minister Steve Norris to consider the growth opportunities at an expanded Gatwick
• backing of 11 London Councils for Gatwick expansion whilst new polling shows two thirds of London Councillors support Gatwick expansion
• the Chief Executive of Legal and General, Nigel Wilson calling on the Government to back Gatwick expansion, and
• 20 new airline routes to long-haul destinations taking Gatwick into the premier league of European airports serving more than 50 long haul destinations

As Cathay Pacific's new route to Hong Kong commenced this week, long-haul routes at the airport have grown 25% versus August 2015, with North Atlantic routes driving this growth +51%. Vancouver routes were +96%, Montreal routes +63%, and Los Angeles routes +51%.

Long-haul summer holiday destinations proving popular included Boa Vista, Cape Verde Islands +64%, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands +42% and Aruba +29%. Whilst significant growth was seen from short-haul summer holiday destinations including Valencia +56%, Tivat +56% and Gibraltar +50%.

Routes to Ireland grew 13% while destinations in the UK and Chanel Islands grew 9% with Belfast International +102%, Newquay +39% and Inverness +18% contributing to this growth.

Average load factors were consistently strong at 91%.

Speaking ahead of the Westminster Energy, Environment and Transport Forum event on Monday 5 September,Gatwick Chief Financial Officer Nick Dunn, said:

"Politically, economically and environmentally the case for Gatwick expansion has never been stronger. We're expansion ready - with this summer our busiest ever and the results of our increased investment attracting new airlines including Cathay Pacific's new route to Hong Kong."

"Gatwick expansion would secure the same number of new routes and economic benefit Britain needs, can be delivered faster, with dramatically lower environmental impacts, and without the £5 billion of taxpayer funding Heathrow would require for surface access improvements.

"Momentum is with Gatwick as business leaders and politicians continue to unite behind us. Post-referendum, Britain needs certainty - Gatwick's straightforward scheme which can be promptly delivered makes it the only choice."