Gatwick says passenger surge underlines need for new runway
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Version 0 of 1. Gatwick has bolstered its case to beat Heathrow to the nod for a new runway by reporting record traffic figures, up 8% on last year, showing that the Sussex airport could reach capacity years ahead of official forecasts. Heathrow, which is already operating its maximum number of flights, meanwhile pointed to a growth in transfer traffic propping up the long-haul routes it claims will best serve Britain’s exporters and economy. Almost 3 million more passengers passed through Gatwick in the past year than in 2013-14. With record traffic last month, the annual total rose by almost 8% to 38.7 milliom people – although it was significantly boosted by two Easter holiday surges falling within the same 12 months (April 2014 and this March). Gatwick expects to break the 40 million mark next year, more than a decade ahead of official government growth forecasts. The Airports Commission, led by Sir Howard Davies, is set to recommend either Gatwick or Heathrow as the site of a new runway for the south-east, giving its verdict soon after the general election. Gatwick has made more intensive use of its single runway, with particular growth in custom on services such as Emirates’ daily superjumbo A380 flights to Dubai. The airport’s chief executive Stewart Wingate said: “Our continued growth has limits, and we urge the new government to act swiftly after the election to unlock the capacity challenges for the south-east. Expanding Gatwick would promote competition in the airport sector and keep travel affordable at a time of economic recovery.” Wingate said the figures showed a need for expansion at what is now the busiest single-runway airport in the world. He promised Gatwick would “build a new runway sooner, at lower cost, and without the environmental obstacles that Heathrow would face.” In its manifesto published on Monday, Labour said it would move quickly to act on the Davies review if elected. The party promised a “swift decision on expanding airport capacity in London and the South East, balancing the need for growth and the environmental impact”. None of the major parties has committed to endorsing the recommendation. Heathrow also recorded its busiest March, up 3.4% on the same month in 2014 to 5.95 million passengers, nudging its annual total up 1.8% to 73.7 million. With the airport already operating at capacity, the increase was driven by larger, fuller aircraft. Transfer traffic rose 4.3%, while journeys to China were up 20%. Chief executive John Holland-Kaye said: “This month we have announced measures to help airlines establish services from UK airports to Heathrow, including lower charges for domestic passengers and a route development fund. “Along with easyJet’s recent announcement that it plans to operate new domestic routes from Heathrow, this demonstrates our commitment that expanding Heathrow will connect all of Britain to global growth.” Stansted recorded nearly 1 million more passengers travelling in the first three months of 2015 than in the same period last year, with 1.7 million passengers in March bringing the annual total to 20.9 million – a leap of 16%, although the airport had previously experienced years of decline. Last week Stansted’s owners, Manchester Airports Group, reported that Manchester airport had reached record passenger numbers with 22.3 million people travelling 2014-15, a 7.5% annual rise, surpassing the previous peak before the financial crisis led to a drop in air travel. |