Gatwick Airport has said it is experiencing “one of our busiest summers yet”, with 19.9 million passengers travelling through its two terminals in the first half of the year.
This is an increase of 7.7% compared to the same period in 2023.
West Sussex Airport reported half-year revenue of £488 million, up 15.3% year-on-year.
Underlying profit rose 13.9% year-on-year to £268 million, with net profit for the period up 33.8% to £106 million.
Stewart Wingate, CEO of Gatwick, said: “We are experiencing one of our busiest summers yet due to increasing demand for travel.
“Thanks to solid planning and close cooperation with our partners, we had a strong start to 2024 and were able to guarantee our passengers a reliable and pleasant experience.
“I am very pleased that we have once again achieved a good level of service, which is demonstrated by the 100% fulfillment of our service measures.
“Our teams have worked incredibly hard to achieve these results.
“As we continue to expand our network and offer more choice to our passengers, we are working towards our vision of being the airport for everyone, regardless of their journey.”
Service measures include factors such as seat availability in departure lounges, waiting times at security checks and baggage delivery times.
Gatwick said its focus on developing new long-haul routes to airports in the Middle East, Asia and North America would attract “a wider range of passengers”.
Recent new services include the launch of flights to and from Singapore Changi Airport in June, while Air India began flights between Gatwick and Bengaluru (Bangalore) this week.
The final stage of Gatwick’s planning application to bring the existing northern emergency runway into routine operation will end next week.
If the application is approved, the runway could be in regular use by the end of the decade.
Mr Wingate said: “Our northern runway project demonstrates our commitment to sustainable growth in line with our sustainability strategy for a decade of change and government policy.”
