Long haul routes keep Gatwick flying at double digit rates

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BA at Gatwick Airport


Cargo at Gatwick Airport continues to grow at double digit rates with a year-on-year increase of almost 15 per cent in May, helped by new long haul routes.

The airport located about 30 miles south of London handled 8,706 tonnes of cargo in May, a year-on-year increase of 14.8 per cent.

On a moving annual total basis, cargo volumes increased 25.8 per cent to 105,532 tonnes between June 2017 and May 2018, compared to 83,873 tonnes between June 2016 and May 2017.

Gatwick Airport has been welcoming new long-haul routes including Qatar Airways launching double daily flights on 22 May using a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

Links to the US also proved strong with growth on flights to East Coast favourites of Boston and New York, as well as further afield to cities including Los Angeles.

Gatwick Airport chief executive officer, Stewart Wingate says: “May was another successful month for Gatwick’s long-haul route network, with substantial growth in our existing routes, as well as the welcome addition of new Qatar Airways flights to Doha.

“This service makes it even easier for our passengers to reach onward destinations in Asia and Australia, and also provides increased cargo capacity – further demonstrating the vital role that Gatwick continues to play for Britain.”

Wingate is continuing to push for a second runway at Gatwick, saying: “Continuing to innovate is hugely important for us, and we’re committed to exploring the best way Gatwick can continue to grow sustainably through maximising the use of our existing facilities, supporting the local and national economy whilst opening up new destinations for our passengers and businesses and offering the country the prospect of a financeable and deliverable new runway scheme.”