London Gatwick has achieved its busiest-ever November as 2.9 million passengers travelled through the airport last month, bringing Gatwick to 45.5 million annual passengers.
Long-haul routes continue their significant growth at Gatwick, growing 12.1 per cent in November, driving a 25.6 per cent cargo increase from the increased belly hold capacity in the aircraft serving these connections.
The airport’s Asia connections proved particularly popular in November with passengers to Hong Kong up 75 per cent and Tianjin up 46.1 per cent.
Gatwick’s regional connectivity also continues to perform strongly with passengers to the Isle of Man, Glasgow and Guernsey up 12.9 per cent, up 11 per cent and up 6.8 per cent respectively.
Gatwick Airport chief executive, Stewart Wingate, said: “Passenger demand for the global connectivity provided by Gatwick continues to rocket – long-haul routes were up 12.1 per cent in November, while business passengers are at record levels.
“This year five new long-haul connections have started, Singapore, Seattle, Denver, Kigali and Taipei, further strengthening Gatwick’s global connectivity.
“Connectivity which is set to further increase 2018 with new connections to Austin, Chicago and Buenos Aires beginning in just the first quarter alone.
“While demand for the slots previously operated by Monarch outstripped availability six times over, International Airlines Group were ultimately successful in acquiring them and we’re looking forward to the new destination choices they will enable for our passengers in 2018.”