Gatwick Airport is set to have a record-breaking summer with eight million passengers forecast to travel through the airport this holiday, up 6.6 per cent on summer 2015.

During the summer holiday period the airport will welcome 50 per cent more passengers with children with 165,000 passengers travelling through during the busiest day this summer, August 14th, the busiest day ever for the airport.

Long-haul destinations continue to go from strength to strength at Gatwick, up 19 per cent on summer 2015.

Destinations proving particularly popular this summer include Orlando, up 17 per cent, Tenerife, up 16 per cent, and Faro up 13 per cent year on year.

The top destinations this year include Orlando, Dubai, Toronto, Caucun and New York.

More Gatwick terminal staff will be on hand throughout the break assisting passengers with the airport’s free of charge children’s play areas, dedicated family security lanes and pushchairs to use on arrival.

Gatwick Airport, terminals operations manager, Wayne Tomlinson said: “We’re seeing more passengers than ever travelling through Gatwick, and this summer is no exception being our busiest yet, with eight million passengers travelling with us.

“All teams at the airport have been working hard ahead of summer to make our passengers’ time with us as fun and hassle free as possible.

“Whether it’s our family entertainment, a dedicated family security lane, or a pushchair available on your arrival at the airport - we strive to offer helpful thoughts – providing the best start and finish to your time away whether you are off to Tenerife or Toronto.”