News

• More competition will increase long haul connections to key markets
• Better quality rail services and rolling stock are critical for attracting airlines
• Resilience in the London airport system would provide more certainty
• Gatwick also submits its response on Aviation and Climate Change

• Passenger traffic up by 0.4% compared with April 2012
• Load factors remain high at 80.2%
• 1.7% more passengers choose to fly long haul from Gatwick than the prior year

• Gatwick sponsors the Sussex Weald Bike Ride 2013
• Over 100 employees get set to take part and support St Catherine’s

• Turkey’s flagship carrier expands services to Istanbul
• Passengers can now fly to Sabiha Gökçen airport, adding to daily services already offered to Atatürk airport

On Wednesday 1 May, the London Assembly published its 'Airport Capacity in London' report.

London Gatwick Airport responded by saying:

• Competition, not regulation, is the best way to promote better services and more choice for passengers and airlines.
• London Gatwick welcomes the fact that the CAA would like to implement the Contracts & Commitments framework as the preferred approach to regulation.
• However, we feel the CAA has yet to grasp fully the opportunity presented by the airports market becoming more competitive after the break-up of the BAA monopoly.
• London Gatwick does not accept the CAA’s initial substantial market power findings and the consequent need for an economic licence.
• The CAA’s suggested regulated price control level of RPI+1% over five years is too demanding and is based on unrealistic assumptions.

• Gatwick calls for night flight quota limits to remain the same
• Night flights are crucial for the economy in terms of tourism and trade
• Current night quota is key for creating new routes and passenger growth

• Vietnam's flagship carrier adds a fifth weekly service from Gatwick
• UK arrivals into Vietnam have increased by 40 per cent year-on-year since nonstop services were launched

• Competition will drive greater passenger choice, convenience and affordability
• Connectivity will be most improved if airports are able to compete for airlines and passengers
• London Gatwick continues to increase connectivity to new destinations

• One of Europe’s fastest growing airlines bases aircraft at Gatwick
• Norwegian has increased flights from Gatwick by over a third since 2009
• Twelve new leisure routes and increased Scandinavian services offer greater choice for leisure and business travellers