Gatwick just had its busiest ever May, with more than four million passengers passing through the airport, a 6.7 per cent increase on the previous year.

The highest ever number of business passengers also passed through Gatwick last month, in what was the airport’s 51st consecutive month of growth.

The airport’s network of more than 50 long haul routes is driving this growth with North American destinations showing particular strength - up 13 per cent - with 15 cities on the US and Canada now served from Gatwick.

The number of business passengers also hit an all-time high with 782,000 business trips made during May. 

The amount of cargo handled by the airport was also up 18.9 per cent, with goods carried in the ‘bellies’ of long haul flights again driving this growth.

Gatwick’s long haul network is set to grow further when the world’s longest low cost long haul route – Norwegian’s Gatwick to Singapore – launches in September, with the airline also starting new services to both Seattle and Denver in the same month.

Stewart Wingate, Gatwick chief executive, said: “There is real momentum behind Gatwick’s growth as records tumble month after month.

“Our continued growth shows that we are an airport that delivers for everyone whether travelling for business or leisure and flying short or long haul, Gatwick has a choice of airlines and destinations unrivalled in the UK.

“The airport’s long haul network has grown significantly and the results benefit both leisure passengers and also the country as global trade becomes increasingly important for the UK economy.”