Gatwick enhances airfield efficiency but traffic and profits dip

London Gatwick’s world-leading runway efficiency and optimisation means it will see an increase from 55 (2025) to 57 maximum scheduled aircraft movements per hour in 2026, following air traffic control and airfield innovations.

These investments – and collaboration with airlines and National Air Traffic Services (NATS) – helped to deliver the best On Time Departures performance for a decade (excluding the pandemic) last year with an 11% increase on 2024.

London Gatwick also became the world’s first single-runway airport to introduce time-based separation allowing an increase in the number of arrivals and departures per hour.

In its recently published 2025 Capital Investment Programme London Gatwick details its ambitious and comprehensive £1.9 billion pre-Northern Runway investment plans including major projects to expand both departure lounges, add new taxiways and decarbonise airport operations while maintaining focus on passenger service, operational excellence and sustainable growth.

In line with this programme, during 2025, the airport:

• Recorded the highest number of airlines to have operated from the airport in a calendar year (57) with 227 destinations offering a rich mix of long and short-haul routes
• Secured new airline partnerships including Jet2 which will fly six aircraft serving 29 destinations starting later this month (March 2026)
• Completed upgrades to departure lounges in both the North and South Terminals
• Completed the groundwork for the ‘Pier 6’ extension which will provide eight new aircraft stands, ready for summer 2027
• Delivered a new multi-million-pound ‘Next Generation’ security scanner instalment on budget and ahead of deadline

However, its annual passenger numbers were down 1.1% to 42.8 million and both revenue and profits dipped by 0.2% and -2.4% respectively.

NORTH RUNWAY PROJECT

In September 2025, Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander granted consent to bring London Gatwick’s existing Northern Runway into routine use alongside its Main Runway.

London Gatwick is accelerating detailed logistical planning and design work for its Northern Runway plans, as it prepares to move into the delivery phase.

The £2.2bn privately financed development is projected to create more than 14,000 additional jobs and generate £1bn per year in economic benefits for the region.

REFLECTIONS ON 2025

Reflecting on the airport’s performance in 2025, chief executive, Pierre-Hugues Schmit, said: “London Gatwick delivered a strong performance in 2025, continuing to invest and innovate while driving productivity and efficiency across the business.

“These achievements are underpinned by our commitment to sustainability, and I want to thank all my colleagues for their dedication and hard work across the year.

“Our focus on excellent passenger service is unwavering. During the year we opened our newly refurbished assisted travel lounge and also completed an upgrade to the departure lounge in our South Terminal, alongside welcoming a variety of new retail partners.

“Looking ahead, the development plans for the Northern Runway detail how we intend to unlock further growth for the airport, our local communities and the national economy. I am very excited for 2026 which is set to be a transformative year as we remain focused on making London Gatwick the airport for everyone, whatever your journey.”

 COMMITTED TO SUSTAINABILITY

In 2025 London Gatwick became the first airport to achieve globally recognised PAS 2080 certification for cutting carbon emissions across the entire asset lifecycle. This recognises work to reduce and manage construction related carbon – from planning and design to construction, operation and decommissioning.

The airport also issued a second €750m sustainability-linked bond demonstrating its strong commitment to reducing emissions, as well as making significant progress on decarbonisation of heat and expanding its fleet of electric vehicles which is projected to number 300 by 2030.

Further details of what the airport is doing to meet the 10 sustainability goals it has pledged to achieve before 2030 have also been published today in its 2025 Decade of Change Report.