“London Gatwick is a key catalyst for regional growth” – Chief Executive highlights airport’s role in regional prosperity
- London Gatwick’s Chief Executive says the airport is central to growth in the South East
- The airport recently led in launching the Gatwick Region Airport Economic Zone, welcomed new long-haul routes and continues to champion local produce
- This week, London Gatwick announced the launch of 29 new services from major airline Jet2, which will create more than 300 jobs
“London Gatwick is not only a gateway to the world – it’s a key catalyst for regional growth.” That was the message from London Gatwick’s Chief Executive, Pierre-Hugues Schmit, speaking at the London Gatwick Economic Summit.
“From unlocking new trade routes to powering innovation and job creation, London Gatwick is proud to play a key role in the region’s prosperity,” Pierre-Hugues Schmit said. “Our Economic Summit has been a brilliant opportunity to connect with key players across the region so we can continue to collaborate for long-term success.”
The airport’s impact over the past year has been felt across sectors - from the launch of the Gatwick Region Airport Economic Zone (AEZ), to the arrival of key routes to Kenya, Uganda and Bahrain. Gatwick provided expert advice to shape West Sussex’s new economic strategy and supported the Sussex Six campaign to promote local produce to its global audience, with 32 Sussex products now available in restaurants, bars and shops across the airport. As an industry partner, the airport has also supported the development and launch of the Crawley Innovation Centre, which opened in April.
With more than 540,000 students reached through London Gatwick’s education programmes since 2021 and construction now complete on the new Sussex and Surrey Institute of Technology in Crawley, the airport continues to play a vital role in shaping the region’s future workforce.
This week, London Gatwick also announced the launch of 29 new services from major airline Jet2, who will base five aircraft at the airport from March 2026, creating more than 300 jobs.
Julie Kapsalis, Chief Executive of NESCOT and AEZ taskforce member, added: “London Gatwick’s leadership is helping us connect education, enterprise and innovation. The AEZ is a platform for collaboration, and the airport’s investment in skills and infrastructure is creating real opportunities for local people. Looking ahead, the Northern Runway is exactly the kind of opportunity that will secure high-quality jobs for the next generation across the Gatwick Region.”
As the South East prepares for the creation of a Sussex Mayoral Combined County Authority, London Gatwick’s strategic importance is clearer than ever - anchoring growth, attracting investment and connecting communities to global opportunity.
London Gatwick is an Industry Partner of the Sussex and Surrey Institute of Technology. This leadership role involves supporting the design and delivery of the curriculum through provision of expertise and specialist resource, including participation in the Strategic Consortium Panel and the Data and Digital Advisory Board.
With 43m annual passengers, London Gatwick is the UK’s second largest and one of Europe’s top ten airports. It is a vital piece of national infrastructure that drives both the national and regional economies by generating £5.5bn GVA and supporting over 76,000 jobs (2023). Almost 60 airlines fly from the airport to over 150 short-haul and more than 50 long-haul destinations. With a declared capacity of 55 movements an hour, London Gatwick is the most efficient single runway airport in the world.
The airport is located 28 miles south of the UK capital and is extremely well-connected, with more than a quarter of England’s population (15m people) – including all of London – less than one hour away by road or rail. A six-year, £2bn sustainable growth programme includes an ambitious plan to be a net zero airport by 2030 and to increase capacity by bringing the airport’s existing Northern Runway into routine use, alongside its Main Runway. VINCI Airports owns a 50.01% stake in the airport, with Global Infrastructure Partners managing the remaining 49.99%.
VINCI Airports, as the leading private airport operator in the world, manages the development and operation of more than 70 airports located in 14 countries. VINCI Airports draws on its expertise as a comprehensive integrator to develop, finance, build and operate airports, leveraging its investment capability and know-how to optimise operational performance and modernise infrastructure while bringing about their environmental transition. In 2016, VINCI Airports became the first airport operator to commit to an international environmental strategy, setting itself the aim of reaching zero net emissions (scope 1 and 2) across the network by 2050 while supporting the territories’ local climate transition.
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Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a part of BlackRock, is a leading infrastructure investor that specialises in investing in, owning and operating some of the largest and most complex assets across the energy, transport, digital infrastructure and water and waste management sectors. With energy pragmatism central to our investment thesis, we are well positioned to support the global energy transition.
GIP’s scaled platform has over $170bn in assets under management. We believe that our focus on real infrastructure assets, combined with our deep proprietary origination network and comprehensive operational expertise, enables us to be responsible stewards of our clients’ capital and to create positive economic impact for communities. For more information, visit www.global-infra.com.
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London, UK, 14 October 2025
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