Above: Computer generated image of what an expanded Gatwick Airport could look like
Gatwick Airport has published its annual results for the full year ending March 31, 2016 today (June 30), which show that the airport continues to break global records.
Gatwick has retained its position as the world’s most efficient single runway airport, handling a record 265,970 air traffic movements (+4% year on year). The airport also reported that it experienced its busiest year in the airport’s history for passengers, with 40.8 million passengers, an increase of 5.5% or 2.1 million passengers.
Gatwick has invested £220.1m (US$296.8m) in the airport over the past 12 months, which includes the creation of the world’s largest self-service bag drop. This is part of the airport’s £1bn (US$1.3bn) investment program.
According to Gatwick, its annual results reinforce why the airport is the best and only deliverable option for the UK’s next runway to meet the need for more airport capacity. Stewart Wingate, CEO of Gatwick Airport, said, “Aviation is changing fast and Gatwick has now entered the premier league of airports with more than 50 long haul routes. Aviation growth is outstripping forecasts. In uncertain times and after decades of delay, only Gatwick can now give Britain certainty that airport expansion can finally happen. Gatwick can have a spade in the ground by 2020 and the first planes flying from a new runway in 2025.”
A decision on airport expansion in southeast England has been delayed until at least October 2016, according to a statement released today (June 30, 2016), by the UK’s transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin.
Gatwick Airport has produced a new animation showing what an expanded Gatwick will look like and how it will operate. Click here to view the video.
