London Gatwick Airport has seen strong passenger growth during the six months from April and September, with an 8.5 per cent increase in traffic.

Growth was driven by existing carriers – including easyJet, British Airways and Norwegian expanding operations and adding new routes.

“Future passenger growth is dependent upon making the most efficient use of our single runway,” explained Stewart Wingate, chief executive of Gatwick Airport.

“We have now increased the aircraft landing charge during our busiest period - the summer - and removed the landing charge in winter to encourage greater all-year round use of the airport.

“We are already seeing a number of new airlines choosing to operate services from Gatwick starting this winter, including AirAsia X, Vietnam Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa.”

Gatwick Airport has also continued to implement a £1.2 billion investment programme, investing in excess of £20 million each month to deliver improved facilities

Passengers are now welcomed to a new security area in the South Terminal which uses new technology to help get them through the security process within five minutes or less.

“One of our stated commitments to our passengers is that we will do our best to get them off on time,” added Wingate.

In the peak three months of the summer, approximately 75 per cent of flights departed on time compared to 62 per cent in the same period last year.

“We have also achieved our service quality regime measures in each of the last three months to end October, which means passengers are getting a good level of service as they journey through our airport,” concluded Wingate.