Press Release

February 2012 traffic performance summary

12 March 2012

Continued passenger growth at Gatwick 

  • Passenger numbers increased by 2.6% year on year
  • 14th consecutive month of year on year passenger growth at Gatwick
  • Record average load factors continue
 

Feb-12

Feb-11

Growth
(%)

Mar-11 -Feb-12*

Mar-10 -Feb-11

Growth
(%)
Total terminal passengers (000s)

2,154.2

2,100.3

2.6

33,725.3

31,614.9

6.7
Market analysis:            
UK + Channel Islands

260.0

251.9

3.2

3,648.0

 3,419.2

6.7
Ireland

95.4

92.1

3.6

1,295.6

1,231.2

5.2
European scheduled

1,106.2

1,067.2

3.7

17,749.3

15,505.9

14.5
European charter

209.9

203.0

3.4

4,544.8

4,778.7

-4.9
North Atlantic

96.5

92.3

4.6

1,950.9

1,890.0

3.2

Other long haul

386.2

393.8

-1.9

4,536.7

4,789.9

-5.3
Air transport movements

16,305

16,795

-2.9

243,171

235,338

3.3
Cargo (metric tonnes)

6,780

7,078

-4.2

87,541

103,493

-15.4

Note: Origins and destinations are classified according to ultimate origin or destination of aircraft in the case of multi-sector flights.
Note: Figures for the market sectors have been rounded. Totals as per traffic summary.
* Moving annual total adjusted to account for 15,139 passengers not previously reported in October 2011 - January 2012 data.

Key Points:

  • Passenger numbers increased by 2.6% year-on-year, with 53,900 more passengers flying through Gatwick than in February 2011. Excluding the impact of the extra day in February 2012, underlying traffic would have been 0.4% lower than in February 2011.
  • Gatwick continues to see growth in short haul markets especially from low cost carriers. Reductions in long haul capacity by charter airlines partially offset by the introduction of new carriers from Asia.
  • Achieved record average load factors for February of 77.7%, up 3.4 percentage points on the prior year,with strong performance continuing across all market sectors.
  • Air traffic movements were down 2.9% year on year due largely to reductions in charter operations. Low Cost type routes continue to grow the European scheduled market, albeit with new airlines operating at the airport.
  • Caribbean Airways announced plans to operate a new scheduled service from Trinidad to Gatwick beginning in Summer 2012. Italian based low cost airline Air One will commence flights between Gatwick and Milan from the end of March 2012.
  • Delta announced plans to indefinitely suspend its five times weekly flights between Gatwick and Atlanta, effective 17 April 2012.

Stewart Wingate, Gatwick Airport Chief Executive said: “I am pleased to report another month of year-on-year growth in passenger numbers at Gatwick. Our substantial investment in the airport is seeing Gatwick attract new long-haul customers and ensure that London remains one of the best connected cities in the world.

“In recent weeks and months we have seen routes opened up to Vietnam and Hong Kong and we look forward to welcoming Air China and Korean Air in the coming months as we support the UK economy with connectionsto the Far East.

“Gatwick does have the capacity to grow and accommodate more flights so we are in a good position to help the UK broaden its trade links with the fast-growing developing markets. The fact that airlines from South EastAsia and the BRIC nations are choosing to operate flights from Gatwick sends a clear message that airlines can serve London as effectively from Gatwick as Heathrow, and that Gatwick can, and is contributing to the economic wellbeing of the UK."

For media relations information please contact:
Gatwick Airport press office 
Tel: +44 (0)1293 505000
Email: gatwickmedia@gatwickairport.com

For investor relations information please contact:
Ben Nolan
Tel: +44 (0)1293 502589
Email: ben.nolan@gatwickairport.com 

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