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have significant freight operations, further cementing Gatwick’s position as the low-cost long-haul link to North America.
Long-haul routes up by 15% But it is not just low-cost carriers which are expanding their longhaul operations from Gatwick. In January this year, Gatwick’s long-haul routes grew by 8.7% and this growth is set to continue with 11 new routes already announced for 2016. British Airways has announced it will be launching new routes in May 2016 from Gatwick to Costa Rica, New York and Lima (which will be the UK’s only direct route to Lima). Cathay Pacific has also announced it will be returning to Gatwick in the summer of 2016, flying direct to Hong Kong and opening up direct trade links with a key gateway to Asia. All of this means Gatwick’s long-haul revolution looks set to continue, opening up new freight markets for exporters and businesses, which is good for competition, good for growth, and ultimately good for local businesses.
FEATURE DESIGN: Beth Goody, Freelance Illustrator, Tel: 07985234135, Email: mail@bethgoody.co.uk, http://bethgoody.co.uk/
Expansion would deliver a tenfold increase in freight
Yet Gatwick is rapidly approaching full capacity, which is why we urgently need the Government to back growth at Gatwick. Gatwick’s second runway plans have been designed to deliver significant growth in cargo and include space for 65,000 m2 of state-of-the art cargo buildings. Forecasts show that an expanded Gatwick can deliver a tenfold increase in cargo volumes, growing steadily to 1,070,000 tonnes by 2050.
Sustainable growth Unlike Heathrow, which already breaches legal air quality levels, Gatwick has never breached air quality levels and would remain well within legal limits even with a second runway, meaning the local community can be confident in our sustainable approach to growth. While Heathrow is currently the UK’s largest airport cargo operator, with a second runway and the growth in low-cost long-haul air travel, Gatwick is ready to compete head on. An expanded Gatwick would open up even more markets, particularly long-haul markets and provide greater choice and competition within the air freight market.
march/april 2016 business edge