Note: Origins and destinations are classified according to ultimate origin or destination of aircraft in the case of multisector flights.
Figures for the market sectors have been rounded. Totals as per traffic summary.

Key Points:

• An additional 32,300 passengers travelled through Gatwick this month compared to March 2010, representing growth of 1.4%.

• The Easter holiday period occurred in early April last year, resulting in March 2010 benefiting from greater outbound traffic. This year the Easter holiday peak falls entirely in April, however some benefit came from a later February half-term period this year.

• Driving growth this month were services to European Scheduled markets to which Gatwick saw valued customers – airberlin, Norwegian, Ryanair, British Airways and easyJet – expand their operations.

• British Airways launched a new route to Marrakech and returned the popular Malaga service from Heathrow to Gatwick, doubling the frequency of its service.

• London’s first low fares service to the Middle East also arrived with easyJet launching its new route to Amman, Jordan – a brand new route served by Gatwick.

• The year ending 31 March 2011 saw a decrease in passengers and air transport movements of 2.3% and 3.6% respectively. The decrease of 0.8 million passengers is attributable to a number of factors occurring predominantly in the summer months. 

• The most significant event was the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland, which resulted in the closure of airspace above Gatwick for approximately 6 days in April.

• Gatwick was also impacted by other subsequent closures of airspace elsewhere in Europe, with airlines being forced to cancel flights.

• Summer traffic was affected by operational issues across easyJet’s network, continental European ATC strikes and the collapse of Kiss and other tour operators during the late summer.

• Traffic in November and December was impacted significantly by heavy snowfall across the UK and Europe. This was largely countered by a milder January compared to prior year when passenger volumes were significantly lower due to adverse weather conditions.

• The summer 2011 scheduling season got underway on 27 March with new services coming on stream: 

• Norwegian will launch a twice weekly service to Alesund, Norway, on 16 April. 

• On the same date, easyJet will add Seville to its route portfolio, flying four times per week to the Andalucian capital.