Gatwick Airport reveals biggest-ever annual investment programme

Gatwick has announced its biggest-ever annual investment in development projects at the airport. 

The investment of £250 million for the forthcoming financial year is part of the airport’s £1.2 billion transformative capital investment plan to be spent over five years on projects including:

Expansion of both North and South Terminal departure lounges and shopping facilities

A transformed railway station working in conjunction with Network Rail and more on-airport parking, and

Strengthened operational resilience with additional pier capacity and optimisation of the airfield

Gatwick continues to further increase its lead as the World’s busiest single-runway airport, with passenger numbers +6.3% on last year.

Long-haul routes grew 21%, versus the same six months last year, with North Atlantic routes +40% on the previous year, as WestJet’s new routes to Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, St John’s started. Meanwhile, Norwegian started a new route Oakland San Francisco which contributed to a more than doubling of their passengers from Gatwick.

Gatwick’s reported growth on domestic routes of +7%, as passengers took advantage of the regional services available from the London airport.

Stewart Wingate, CEO of Gatwick Airport, said: “Gatwick represents the changing face of aviation – demonstrated by today’s results. We continue to grow strongly breaking records as passengers respond to the variety on offer at the airport, low-cost, charter airlines and full services airlines. All now flying more passengers on more flights to more global destinations than ever.

“Our long-haul routes have grown 21% with the very latest of these British Airways’ new route to Cape Town starting today. Meanwhile, next summer Gatwick will start the UK’s only direct route to Xi’an China – home of the Terracotta Army.

“This year destinations in China, Peru, Canada, Costa Rica, Nigeria, as well as the US have been added to the airport’s line-up of long-haul routes whilst The Airport Council International have recognised that Gatwick is one of the fastest growing airports in Europe.

“Today’s announcement demonstrates Gatwick’s ongoing commitment to our development and growth, maintaining our vital role within the UK economy as we continue to offer the UK Government a credible and deliverable option for runway expansion.”

The six-month period to the end of September 2016 was the busiest in Gatwick’s history with 25 million passengers, an increase of 6.3% or 1.5 million passengers, as the airport further increases its lead as the World’s busiest single runway airport. This includes the two busiest months in Gatwick’s history – July (4.6 million passengers) and August (4.8 million passengers)

The last year has also been the busiest year in Gatwick’s history with 42.3 million passengers in the twelve months to the end of September 2016.