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Gatwick sees summer schedule start with record load factors and new long-haul airlines

11 May 2012

  • Passenger numbers only 36,500 lower than prior April, despite public holiday boost last year

  • Gatwick welcomes its first Korean Air and Air China flights

  • Load factors continue to improve over prior years

April 2012 traffic performance summary

Month

Moving Annual Total

Growth

May-11

May-10

Growth

Apr-12

Apr-11

(%)

Apr-12

Apr-11

(%)

Total terminal passengers (000s)

2,722.5

2,759.0

-1.3

33,782.2

32,349.7

4.4

Market Analysis:

UK + Channel Islands

322.2

307.7

4.7

3,774.6

3,599.8

4.9

Ireland

105.0

110.6

-5.1

1,295.1

1,257.7

3.0

European scheduled

1,526.4

1,472.5

3.7

17,842.6

16,112.9

10.7

European charter

218.0

258.8

-15.8

4,529.4

4,751.2

-4.7

North Atlantic

160.6

172.9

-7.1

1,951.3

1,917.1

1.8

Other long haul

390.3

436.5

-10.6

4,389.2

4,711.0

-6.8

Air transport movements

19,712

20,248

-2.6

241,962

240,100

0.8

Cargo (metric tonnes)

7,895

7,302

8.1

88,775

100,628

-11.8

Note: Origins and destinations are classified according to ultimate origin or destination of aircraft in the case of multi-sector flights.

Figures for the market sectors have been rounded. Totals as per traffic summary.


Key Points:

  • Passenger numbers were down 1.3% on the previous April, primarily driven by the Easter holidays starting in April last year but in March this year, and the additional public holiday in April 2011 to mark the royal wedding.

  • Average load factors were up 1.2 percentage points to 80.9% in April 2012, despite the year-on-year shift in holidays.

  • Air traffic movements were down 2.6% year-on-year due to reductions in charter operations and some away-based carriers, offset by growth from Gatwick-based low cost operators and new long haul airlines.

  • Korean Air commenced services between Gatwick and Seoul on 28 April, followed shortly afterwards by Air China who started flights to Beijing on the 2 May.

  • Air Nigeria confirmed they will commence daily flights to Lagos from 17 May. Gatwick will also welcome Caribbean Airlines on 15 June who are planning to operate a six times per week service Port of Spain, Trinidad.

Nick Dunn, Gatwick Airport’s 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.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

For media relations information, please contact:
Sarah Baranowski, 01293 505000, sarah.baranowski@gatwickairport.com

For investor relations information, please contact:
Ben Nolan, 01293 502589, ben.nolan@gatwickairport.com

For more information contact:

Gatwick Airport press office

t: + 44 (0) 1293 505000
e: gatwickmedia@gatwickairport.com

 

About Gatwick Airport

Gatwick Airport is the UK’s second largest airport and the busiest single-runway airport in the world. It serves more than 180 destinations in 90 countries for around 34.2 million passengers a year on short- and long-haul point-to-point services. It is also a major economic driver for the South-East region, generating around 23,000 on-airport jobs and a further 13,000 jobs through related activities. The airport is 28 miles south of London with excellent public transport links, including the Gatwick Express. Gatwick Airport is owned by a group of international investment funds, of which Global Infrastructure Partners is the largest shareholder.

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