London Gatwick Airport has announced the commencement of its summer season with an increased load factor and new international flights.
In April 2012, the airport registered its total number of passengers as 2.7 million, a reduction of 1.3 percent from the total for April 2011, while the load factor has increased in April 2012 by 1.2 percent, compared to April 2011.
In April 2012, the airport registered a reduction in air traffic of 2.6 percent year-on-year, due to slow charter operations.
The airport has also reported a new service from Korean Air to Seoul, which commenced on April 28, 2012, while Air China commenced its flights to Beijing on May 2, 2012.
Air Nigeria will be commencing daily flights to Lagos from May 17, 2012, while Caribbean Airlines will be offering a six times weekly service to Port of Spain, Trinidad, from June 15, 2012.
Nick Dunn, the airport chief financial officer, said, ‘The year-on-year decrease in passenger traffic is largely accounted for by the timing of public holidays in April 2011, including the late Easter holiday weekend, the additional holiday to mark the royal wedding and the early May bank holiday. Despite this, planes were flying fuller with load factors up 1.2 percentage points.
This month we were given a vote of confidence by Korean Air and Air China as they launched operations to Seoul and Beijing respectively. With room to accommodate more flights, we are in a strong position to help London remain one of the best connected cities in the world.’
