Gatwick Airport, the United Kingdom’s second-largest aviation hub, has reported a significant 7.7% increase in passenger numbers for the first half of 2024.
The airport attributes this increase to a robust recovery in short-haul travel, despite long-haul passenger numbers continuing to lag behind pre-pandemic levels. Revenues at Gatwick rose by 15.3% to £488 million in the first six months of 2024, while pre-tax profits surged by 36% to £136.3 million.
Overall passenger numbers remain 10% below levels recorded in the first half of 2019, with long-haul travel facing a 30% decline from pre-pandemic figures. Gatwick’s Chief Executive, Stewart Wingate, noted that some long-haul flight slots have been temporarily reallocated to short-haul carriers. However, he expressed optimism that these slots will eventually revert to long-haul use as the airport continues to expand its network, especially with airlines from India, China, and other parts of Asia.
Gatwick’s short-haul network remains strong, with 16.9 million passengers recorded in the first half of 2024, just 5.6% shy of pre-pandemic numbers. Wingate anticipates that short-haul passenger volumes in the latter half of the year will surpass those of 2019.
The airport is awaiting government approval to bring its emergency northern runway into regular use, which is a crucial element of its £2.2 billion expansion plan. If approved, this would enable Gatwick to handle up to 75 million passengers annually by the late 2030s, a significant increase from the 40.9 million passengers recorded last year.
These developments highlight Gatwick’s resilience and strategic growth plans amidst ongoing challenges in the aviation sector.
