Passenger numbers at Gatwick up by 2.1% in October
Passenger numbers at Gatwick up by 2.1% in October
- Despite the continued economic headwinds, over 60,000 or 2.1% more passengers flew from Gatwick compared to the prior year
- Long haul carriers contributed over 39,000 passengers of the October traffic increase
- Load factors remain high at 82.2%
October 2012 traffic performance summary
| Month | Moving Annual Total | |||||
| Growth | Nov-11 | Nov-10 | Growth | |||
| Oct-12 | Oct-11 | (%) | Oct-12 | Oct-11 | (%) | |
| Total terminal passengers (000s) | 2,982.80 | 2,922.80 | 2.1 | 34,115.80 | 33,257.10 | 2.6 |
| Market Analysis: | ||||||
| UK + Channel Islands | 344.3 | 336.2 | 2.4 | 3,801.80 | 3,658.00 | 3.9 |
| Ireland | 110.2 | 101.3 | 8.8 | 1,287.50 | 1,264.70 | 1.8 |
| European scheduled | 1,675.30 | 1,588.60 | 5.5 | 18,502.70 | 17,325.80 | 6.8 |
| European charter | 293.8 | 357.5 | -17.8 | 4,069.00 | 4,566.40 | -10.9 |
| North Atlantic | 164.3 | 184 | -10.7 | 1,861.20 | 1,945.30 | -4.3 |
| Other long haul | 394.9 | 355.2 | 11.2 | 4,593.90 | 4,496.80 | 2.2 |
| Air transport movements | 21,097 | 21,254 | -0.7 | 241,739 | 243,247 | -0.6 |
| Cargo (metric tonnes) | 8,750 | 7,460 | 17.3 | 94,960 | 89,567 | 6 |
Note: Origins and destinations are classified according to ultimate origin or destination of aircraft in the case of multi-sector flights.
Figures for the market sectors have been rounded. Totals as per traffic summary.
Key points:
- Gatwick continued to build on last month's increased growth rates with 60,100 or 2.1% more passengers flying from Gatwick compared to the prior year.
- Traffic on scheduled services to Europe continued to increase versus the prior year at a growth rate of 5.5% but this was partly offset by the continued decline in European charter traffic
- New long haul carriers increasing London's connectivity to key business growth markets in Beijing, Seoul and Vietnam contributed over 39,000 passengers of the October traffic increase
- The trend of achieving high load factors continues. Load factors in October were 1.3% higher than the prior year at 82.2%.
This month:
- easyJet confirmed it will launch a new twice-daily service from Gatwick to Moscow Domodedovo airport from spring 2013.
- Norwegian Air Shuttle - one of Europe's fastest-growing airlines - announced it is to establish a new base in London at Gatwick Airport in spring 2013. Norwegian will base three aircraft at Gatwick, increase frequency of existing routes and introduce 14 new direct routes from London to the Mediterranean.
- Spanish airline Vueling confirmed it will operate a new route from Gatwick to Barcelona from March 2013.
- Aer Lingus confirmed their withdrawal of routes to Cork and Monarch to Milan
Commenting, Gatwick Airport's Chief Financial Officer Nick Dunn said: "Economic conditions remain challenging but we are competing hard to make progress through a sustained focus on providing the best passenger experience. Growth has continued into October with 2.1% more passengers choosing to fly from Gatwick compared with last October.
"We were also pleased by the landmark CAA ruling allowing easyJet to fly to Moscow. This clearly shows that crucial business routes can operate out of Gatwick. This decision will encourage real competition and therefore much greater choice and lower costs for passengers."