Gatwick Airport reported passenger numbers reached an all-time high of 45.7 million during the 12 months to the end of March.
The figure was up 3.6 per cent on last year, resulting in an extra 1.6 million people travelling through the airport.
Revenue at the airport was up 5.4 per cent, to £764.2 million, over the period.
Combined with carefully controlled cost management, this resulted in an EBITDA increase of 10.1 per cent, to £411.2 million, and a profit before tax of £233.7 million
Passenger growth was driven by the airport’s long-haul connections, with an additional one million long-haul passengers (up 14.4 per cent on the previous year) travelling through Gatwick.
In the last financial year, nine new long-haul routes have started from the airport to destinations including Buenos Aires, Taipei and Singapore.
Plus, building on increased passenger numbers to China, up 44.5 per cent year on year, next week Air China will start the UK’s only direct connection to Chengdu.
Nick Dunn, chief financial officer, Gatwick Airport, said: “We have ambitious plans to further enhance the experience for passengers at the airport, with a commitment to invest over £3 billion between 2010 – 2023, including an extension to Pier 6 providing six new aircraft stands, plus a new mezzanine level in the North Terminal departure lounge to accommodate new restaurants.
“Gatwick welcomes and is focussed on the government’s recent challenge to all airports to make the best use of their existing runways.
“It is vital that all airports are encouraged to increase capacity and we are exploring the best way Gatwick can continue to grow sustainably to support the local and national economy so that Britain can reap the benefits of greater global connectivity.”
Gatwick Airport is the UK’s second largest airport and the most efficient single-runway airport in the world.
It serves more than 228 destinations in 74 countries.