Gatwick Airport achieved an impressive three million passengers travelling through the airport this February, up 9.9 per cent on 2016.

Long-haul routes continue their booming growth at Gatwick, up 20.3 per cent on February 2016 and driving a up six per cent cargo increase.

Destinations likely benefitting from passengers booking a Valentine’s break included Dubai, the airport’s most popular long-haul destination in the month with 76,965 passengers visiting and up eight per cent on February 2016.

Other destinations also likely benefiting from the Valentine’s effect included St Lucia up 52 per cent, New York up 66 per cent and Paris up 77 per cent.

Los Angeles was up 90 per cent, on the same time last year, with Gatwick passengers to shortly have even more options for travel to America’s West Coast as British Airways start their new route to Oakland, San Francisco, this March.

Gatwick Airport, chief executive, Stewart Wingate said: “Gatwick’s February passenger figures demonstrate the confidence we are witnessing from our passengers, with travel still high priority following the Brexit referendum, with passenger numbers up ten per cent on February 2016.

“Our booming long-haul growth, reflects our passengers’ response to our established and growing line-up of long-haul destinations.

“In the next three weeks alone British Airways start their new route to Oakland, San Francisco and Virgin Atlantic to Varadero, Cuba. Meanwhile, Cathay Pacific’s existing route to Hong Kong will be going daily this summer.”