London Gatwick offers passengers record number of destinations ahead of big Christmas getaway
- London Gatwick is connecting passengers to 227 destinations this Christmas
- The airport expects Sunday 28 December to be its busiest day over the festive period
- Passengers can enjoy a range of festivities in the airport, including appearances from Santa Claus and performances from Rock Choir
Passengers looking for a magical Christmas getaway have the choice of a record number of destinations from London Gatwick, as the airport prepares to welcome passengers over the festive season.
From winter wonderlands such as Rovaniemi - the home of Santa Claus - to sought-after winter sun locations further afield, London Gatwick’s 58 airlines are offering flights to 227 destinations across Europe, North America, Asia, the Middle East and Africa this winter.
This year’s top trending Christmas escapes for long-haul passengers are Dubai, Shanghai and Orlando, while European hotspots Geneva, Barcelona and Dublin lead the way for short-haul breaks.
Sunday 28 December is expected to be the busiest day for travel over the Christmas break, with 757 flights. On Christmas Day the airport will be open and operating with a scheduled 249 flights.
Passengers travelling through London Gatwick will be treated to special appearances from Santa Claus and performances from Rock Choir who will be singing Christmas carols. Retailers will also offer festive tastings, seasonal deals, make-up and skincare consultations.
Overall, London Gatwick expects festive travel numbers to increase by 3% compared with last year.
Nick Williams, Head of Passenger Operations at London Gatwick said: “Christmas is always an exciting time at London Gatwick, welcoming passengers as they jet off to celebrate with family, friends and loved ones around the world, or as they arrive to spend the holidays in the UK. We are delighted to be able to connect passengers to more destinations than ever before this holiday season.
“Passengers can also get into the festive spirit before boarding their flight, as we celebrate with a range of activities in the terminals, including appearances from Santa Claus and a festive singalong with Rock Choir.
“We wish all our passengers a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year.”
With increasing numbers of festive passengers expected at London Gatwick, holidaymakers are encouraged to plan ahead and follow safety guidance to ensure a smooth and stress-free journey.
Andrew McConnell, Deputy Director of Communications, UK Civil Aviation Authority said: “London Gatwick will be one of the UK’s busiest airports this festive season, so Pack Safe, Fly Safe. Before you head off on your festive holiday, take a moment to check what you’re packing and plan your journey. Keep phones, laptops and vapes in your hand luggage, switch off any devices in checked bags and leave gifts unwrapped for security checks. A little preparation now means a smoother start to your holiday.”
Top tips for passengers travelling over the festive period:
- Plan your journey to the airport in advance: Check roadworks and rail services before you travel. If driving, book parking in advance with Official London Gatwick Parking
- Book special assistance at least 48 hours in advance: More information is available on the London Gatwick website
- Arrive on time: Typically, this is three hours before a long-haul flight and two hours before a short-haul flight
- New security rules: Passengers can now leave liquids and electrical items, such as laptops, in their cabin bags when passing through security
- For those travelling to celebrate Christmas with friends and family, passengers can take up to two boxes of unopened crackers in hand luggage and festive food. Mince pies, Christmas puddings and even frozen turkeys can all be taken in hand luggage. To ensure a smooth security process, passengers are not allowed to pack wrapped presents in hand luggage
- Make the most of London Gatwick’s range of restaurants, cafes, bars and shops: GAIL’s Bakery landed at the airport in September, broadening choice for passengers, while new openings Discover London and Venchi are perfect for indulgent treats or last-minute gifts
- If shopping, enjoy 10% off when you use World Duty Free’s Reserve & Collect service: Browse products online, reserve them up to 30 days before you travel, then collect and pay in-store
With 43m annual passengers, London Gatwick is the UK’s second largest and one of Europe’s top 10 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.
For more information:
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.
Linked news
-
London, UK, 12 December 2025
Italian Chocogelateria Venchi opens first UK airport store at London Gatwick
Read more
