Gatwick Airport is now in a league of its own as it breaks its own record for the number of passengers travelling on a single runway – more than 42 million passengers now travel through the airport annually.

This new record was achieved on the same weekend that Cathay Pacific’s new route to Hong Kong joins the airport’s wide range of long-haul connections, further boosting Gatwick’s links to China and the Far East.

With 4.8 million passengers travelling through the airport in August, +5.7% on last year, Gatwick’s expansion plans have also been boosted by significant political and business support over the summer.

Long-haul summer holiday destinations proving popular included Boa Vista, Cape Verde Islands +64%, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands +42% and Aruba +29%. Whilst significant growth was seen from short-haul summer holiday destinations including Valencia +56%, Tivat +56% and Gibraltar +50%.

Routes to Ireland grew 13% while destinations in the UK and Chanel Islands grew 9% with Belfast International +102%, Newquay +39% and Inverness +18% contributing to this growth.

Average load factors were consistently strong at 91%.

Speaking ahead of the Westminster Energy, Environment and Transport Forum event on Monday 5 September, Gatwick Chief Financial Officer Nick Dunn, said:

“Politically, economically and environmentally the case for Gatwick expansion has never been stronger. We’re expansion ready – with this summer our busiest ever and the results of our increased investment attracting new airlines including Cathay Pacific’s new route to Hong Kong.”

“Gatwick expansion would secure the same number of new routes and economic benefit Britain needs, can be delivered faster, with dramatically lower environmental impacts, and without the £5 billion of taxpayer funding Heathrow would require for surface access improvements.”

“Momentum is with Gatwick as business leaders and politicians continue to unite behind us. Post-referendum, Britain needs certainty – Gatwick’s straightforward scheme which can be promptly delivered makes it the only choice.”