London Gatwick Airport has reported positive growth in passenger numbers in may 2012, compared to figures for the same month last year.
Around three million passengers flew through the airport in May 2012, a rise of 2 percent from May 2011, in spite of shift in school holidays due to the Jubilee celebrations in June 2012.
The airport is reporting better average load factors in May 2012 than in preceding years, with planes flying at 79.5 percent load capacity, which is 2.1 percent more than that in May 2011.
However, air transport movements at the airport have reduced by 1.2 percent year-on-year, through fewer charter flights, but this result has been offset by growth in low cost and new long-haul operators, including Korean Air, Hong Kong Airlines and Vietnam Airways.
Nick Dunn, the airport chief financial officer, said, ‘It is encouraging to report a 2 percent growth in passenger numbers during May despite the move of a busy school-half term and May Bank holiday to June. Despite the continuing economic headwinds, business and leisure passengers are taking advantage of low-cost travel to many destinations in Europe and the new long-haul services operating from Gatwick.
We have also seen competition amongst airports working with Atlantic Airways switching its London service to the Faroe Islands from Stansted to Gatwick during May. We continue to invest around £20 million a month in the airport to create a modern, welcoming airport with minimal queue-times and excellent customer service. This is now paying dividends with airlines and passenger choosing to fly from Gatwick.’
