Gatwick airport has recorded an 8% increase in passenger numbers from the same period last year. This has emboldened its resolution to emerge ahead of Heathrow airport in the bid for a new runway. The growth momentum shows that the airport could reach capacity well beyond official forecasts.
Approximately 3 million passengers transited through Gatwick airport in the financial year 2014/15, than in the same period last year. These numbers were significantly boosted by passengers travelling during the Easter holidays. Gatwick airport forecasts it will surpass 40 million passengers by next year ahead of the growth forecasts by the government.
Gatwick airport has continued to attract huge airlines with the daily A380 flights to Dubai. The airport’s CEO, Stewart Wingate, says that they are on a short leash. The current sustained growth can only go so far unless the capacity at the airport is increased. He says that in order to boost competition and the healthy benefits it brings such as increased quality and competitive prices, Gatwick shouldreceive the nod for expansion.
Wingate said that his airport was the busiestsingle runway airport in the world. He insisted on his earlier comments that his airport would build a new runway sooner, at a friendly price and free from environmental concerns which would face its rival Heathrow airport.
Political parties are courting the airports expansion debate with a view to get voters to their side. The labor party has said it will be looking forward to airport capacity expansion both in London and South east without specifying which of the two rivals it is backing.
Heathrow airport is on the charm offensive to increase domestic routes which it had hitherto underserviced. The airport is using lower charges for domestic passengers and a route development fund to grow domestic connectivity.
