Gatwick approaches full capacity as airport renews argument for expansion

  • Meridian
Credit: PA

Gatwick Airport has revealed that it has handled 40 million passengers this year and is rapidly approaching full capacity.

It released the figures as a response to claims by the Airports Commission that it would take until 2024 for the airport to reach that level.

This was one of the arguments the commission made in deciding against recommending the airport for runway expansion. It said that Heathrow was a better option.

The Government is now expected to make its final decision in weeks, prompting Gatwick to lobby hard for it to go against the recommendation.

The latest air traffic data shows:

  • busiest ever October as Gatwick achieves 32nd consecutive month of growth

  • 3.6 million passengers travelled through the airport in October, +7.8%, or 262,600 more than the same month last year

  • Routes contributing to this significant growth include European routes up 9.7% and North Atlantic routes up 8.5%

  • ·European destinations showing strong growth include: Madrid +37%, Rome +22.4%, Venice +22.8% and Barcelona +13.8%

  • · North Atlantic destinations showing strong growth include: New York +111.6% and LA +86.9%.

  • · Growth to Dubai was +11.4%