Gatwick has emerged the world’s top international low-cost airport. This is according to a new report by the Centre for Aviation (CAPA)
The airport’s success was attributed to European airline Norwegian’s long-haul budget flight routes to North America and the Far East. Norwegian operates eleven low-cost long-haul routes from Gatwick Airport.
A delighted Stephen King, the airport’s boss said: “News that Gatwick has become the world’s leading low-cost airport shows that competition between airports is working and has allowed our long-haul network to go from strength to strength.
“At this vital time for the country’s economy - it is great to see that the UK has more than just one national asset helping our businesses get goods and services to markets across the globe.”
Gatwick is set to add new routes to Denver and Seattle in September this year. Other new routes will include New York, Boston Los Angeles, Oakland and Orlando in the US.
Norwegian will also launch a new route to Singapore Changi Airport from 28 September this year, flying four times a week, with the number expected to rise to five flights in winter.
Apart from Norwegian, other airlines based at Gatwick are such as Air Transat, WestJet and Air Canada Rouge which fly to cities across Canada.
Gatwick runs more than 50 long-haul destinations, operated by full-service, charter and budget airlines.
The airport recently received backing from several MPs for its multi-million pound project. Crawley MP, Henry Smith said the new maintenance facility would not only be beneficial to the airport but Crawley’s economy too.
The project, which is expected to create more than 100 jobs, will boost Gatwick’s capacity to support airlines as the airport continues to grow. The proposed facility has also received backing from the Exiting the European Union minister David Jones who said it’s a sign that Britain will continue to thrive even after Brexit.
