Gatwick airport says it has had 3.3% passenger growth March to September

Gatwick airport says it has had an underlying passenger growth rate of 3.3% over the 6 months March to April. (The apparent increase of 8.5% is distorted by the ash cloud effects in 2010).  Passenger numbers were actually falling at Gatwick over much of 2010 (see below), so the increase doesn’t signify much. Gatwick has increased the aircraft landing charge during summer and removed them in Winter to encourage greater all-year round use of the airport. Some new airlines will start to operate services from Gatwick this Winter, including AirAsia X, Vietnam Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa.

see Financial Times article on 29.11.2011

Gatwick beats rival in battle for passengers

at

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/2a35378c-1a85-11e1-ae14-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1fCCxqQ5k

which says: “Route expansion by easyJet and British Airways this summer helped boost the number of passengers travelling through Gatwick airport by an underlying 3.3% from last year, while a policy of cutting landing charges in winter lured in new carriers, including Air Asia X, Hong Kong Airlines and Lufthansa.”

and

“Gatwick’s operators have focused on punctuality and turnround times, invested in upgrades to the retail space and introduced a policy of eliminating landing charges during the winter in order to encourage year-round use of the world’s busiest single-runway airport. ”  Gatwick expects 1.5% passenger growth next summer.

and   Gatwick airport press release below:

Gatwick Airport Limited
Results for the six months ended 30 September 2011

29 November 2011

(Gatwick Airport Limited (“the Company”) is the owner and operator of Gatwick Airport (“Gatwick”))

  • Solid underlying passenger growth estimated at 3.3%, adjusting for ash cloud and other one-off events last year; actual increase of 8.5%
  • Continuous improvement in operational performance
    all service quality regime measures achieved in August, September and October and all security queuing targets met throughout the year
    13%pts improvement in on-time performance in the 3 peak Summer months
  • Strong financial performance reflecting traffic growth, restructuring of landing charges, and tight cost control
    o turnover up 14.8% to £314.5 million
    o EBITDA (pre-exceptional items) up 34.4% to £164.4 million
  • More than £20 million invested each month delivering new and improved facilities
  • Five new airlines commencing operations in Winter 2012

 

Unaudited six months ended 30 Sept 2011Unaudited six months ended 30 Sept 2010 Change 
Passengers (in millions)19.7 18.2 8.5%
(£m)
Turnover1314.5 273.9 14.8%
EBITDA (pre-exceptional  items)2164.4 122.3 34.4%
Capital expenditure134.1 91.9 45.9%
Regulatory Asset Base32,119.5 1,830.1 15.8%
Net debt31,194.7 771.3 54.9%

1. For the year ending 31 March 2012, the structure of landing charges has been amended, with landing charges eliminated in the winter (November to March inclusive) and commensurately uplifted in the summer (April to October inclusive).  Of the £34m increase in airport and other traffic charges turnover in the six months ended 30 September 2011, an estimated £14m of this is attributed to the landing charges restructuring.
2. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation, and before ‘operating costs – exceptional’.
3. The Company’s net debt and Regulatory Asset Base are shown as at 30 September 2011.

Stewart Wingate, Chief Executive Officer of Gatwick Airport, said:

“The six months between April and September has seen strong passenger growth for Gatwick, with an 8.5% increase in traffic. Even allowing for factors such as ash that affected all major airports across Europe in the summer months in the prior period we saw underlying growth of 3.3%, driven primarily by existing airlines such as easyJet, BA and Norwegian expanding their operations and adding new routes.

“Future passenger growth is dependent upon making the most efficient use of our single runway.  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.

“This restructuring of charges, combined with strong traffic growth and a continued focus on cost efficiency, has helped us achieve a strong financial result with EBITDA (pre-exceptional items) up 34.4% to £164.4 million.

“We continued to implement our £1.2 billion investment programme during this period, investing in excess of £20 million each month to deliver improved facilities for our passengers and airlines.  Passengers are now benefiting from an impressive new security area in the South Terminal which uses the best technology to help them get through the security process within five minutes or less.  The ‘front door’ to the North Terminal is now more spacious and modern with more self service check-in options.

“One of our stated commitments to our passengers is that we will do our best to get them off on time.  I am very pleased to say that our on-time performance has shown a significant improvement. In the peak three months of the Summer, approximately 75% of flights departed on time compared to 62% 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.”

http://www.gatwickairport.com/business/media-centre/press-releases/half-year-results-september-2011/

 

Gatwick passengers are still well below the 2008  figure.  34,164,000  in 2008.   32,361,000 in 2009.   31,347,444 in 2010

http://www.anna.aero/european-airport-traffic-trends/#

Figures for Gatwick passengers, air transport movements going back several years:

Figures for Gatwick for October 2011
Source: Gatwick press release for more details (Oct 2011 compared to Oct 2010) –
Terminal Passengers: up + 2 % in Oct  to 2,908,000 passengers compared to 2,850,100 passengers approx in 2010
Air Transport Movements:  down – 0.1% to 21,865 ATMs
Air Cargo : down – 23.2 % to 7,458 metric tonnes
Figures for Gatwick for September 2011
Source: Gatwick press release for more details (Sept 2011 compared to Sept 2010) –
Terminal Passengers: up + 4.9% in Sept to 3,363,500 passengers approx
Air Transport Movements: up + 1.9% to 22,858 ATMs
Air Cargo : down – 13.2 % to 7,135 metric tonnes
Figures for Gatwick for August 2011
Source: Gatwick press release for more details (August 2011 compared to August 2010) –
Terminal Passengers: up + 3.6 % in Aug to 3,825,500 passengers approx
Air Transport Movements: up + 2.1 % to 24,610 ATMs
Air Cargo : down – 17.2 % to 7,278 metric tonnes
Figures for Gatwick for July 2011
Source: Gatwick press release for more details (July 2011 compared to July 2010) –
Terminal Passengers: up + 5.9 % in June to 3,632,400 passengers approx
Air Transport Movements: up + 2.7 % to 23,938 ATMs
Air Cargo : down – 24.1 % to 7,260 metric tonnes

Figures for Gatwick for June 2011  
 Source: Gatwick press release   for more details  (June 2011 compared to June 2010) –
 Terminal Passengers:           up + 5.2 % in June to 3,205,400 passengers approx
Air Transport Movements:    up  + 2.4 % to 22,387 ATMs
Air Cargo :                            down – 20.6 % to 7,213 metric tonnes
Figures for Gatwick for May 2011  
 Source: Gatwick press release   for more details  (May 2011 compared to May 2010) – effect of royal wedding in 2011
 Terminal Passengers:           up + 6.8 % in May 2011 to 2,916,500 passengers approx
Air Transport Movements:     up  + 5 % to 21,894 ATMs
Air Cargo :                              down – 21.1 % to 7,633 metric tonnes
Figures for Gatwick for April 2011  

Source: Gatwick press release   for more details  (Apr 2011 compared to Apr 2010 – distorted as April 2010 had a 6 day airspace closure to the volcanic ash cloud)

Terminal Passengers:           up + 34.2% in Apr 2011 to 2,759,000 passengers approx
Air Transport Movements:     up  + 27.5% to 20,248 ATMs
Air Cargo :                              down – 8.3% to 7,302 metric tonnes
Figures for Gatwick for March  2011  

Source: Gatwick press release   for more details  (Mar 2011 compared to Mar 2010)

Terminal Passengers:           down – 0.1% in Mar 2011 to 2,420,500 passengers approx
Air Transport Movements:     up  + 2.1% to 19,096 ATMs
Air Cargo :                              down – 21.8% to 7,898 metric tonnes
 
 Figures for Gatwick for February  2011  

Source: Gatwick press release   for more details  (Feb 2011 compared to Feb 2010)

Terminal Passengers:           up + 2.3% in Feb 2011 to 2,100,300 passengers approx
Air Transport Movements:     up  + 0.1% to 16,795 ATMs
Air Cargo :                              down – 15.1% to 7,078 metric tonnes
Figures for Gatwick for January 2011
 Source:  Gatwick press release    (Jan 2011 figures compared to Jan 2010)
 Terminal Passengers:          up + 11.8% in Jan 2011 to 2,094,300 passengers approx
Air Transport Movements:    up + 10.2% to 17,950 ATMs
Air Cargo :                           up  + 9.7% to 6,861 metric tonnes

2010

Figures for Gatwick for all of 2010
 Source:  Gatwick press release   (2010 figures compared to 2009)
 Terminal Passengers:          down – 3.2% in 2010 to 31,348.100 passengers approx 
Air Transport Movements:    down  – 4.7% to 233,652 ATMs
Air Cargo :                               up  +39.3% to 104,143 metric tonnes

Figures for Gatwick for December 2010

 Source:  Gatwick press release   (Dec 2010 figures compared to Dec 2009)
 Terminal Passengers:          down – 10.7% in Dec 2010 to 1,894,400 passengers approx
Air Transport Movements:    down  – 11.7% to 15,206 ATMs
Air Cargo :                          down – 9.7% tom 7,367 metric tonnes
—-
Figures for Gatwick for November 2010
 Source:  Gatwick press release  (Nov 2010 figures compared to Nov 2009)
 Terminal Passengers:       up + 2.7% in Nov 2010 to 2,122,500 passengers approx
Air Transport Movements:    down  – 0.5% to 17,011 ATMs
Air Cargo :                        up  +13,3% to 9,981 metric tonnes
 Figures for Gatwick for October 2010
 Source:  Gatwick press release  (Oct 2010 figures compared to Oct 2009)
 Terminal Passengers:       up +0.8% in Oct 2010 to 2,850,100 passengers approx
Air Transport Movements:    down  – 1.5% to 21,214 ATMs
Air Cargo :                        up + 29.7% to 9.709 metric tonnes
Figures for Gatwick for September 2010
 Source:  Gatwick press release  (Sept 2010 figures compared to Sept 2009)
 Terminal Passengers:           down – 2.6 % in Sept 2010 to 3,206,740 passengers approx
Air Transport Movements:     down  – 4.9% to 22,426 ATMs
Air Cargo :                         up + 40.2% to 8.789 metric tonnes
Figures for Gatwick for August 2010
 Source:  Gatwick press release  (August 2010 figures compared to August 2009)
 Terminal Passengers:         down – 1.3 % in Aug 2010  to 3,693,000 passengers approx
Air Transport Movements:   down  – 3.7% to 24,106 ATMs
Air Cargo :                          up + 40.2%  to 8,789 metric tonnes
 Figures for Gatwick for July 2010
 Source:  Gatwick press release  ( July 2010 figures compared to July 2009)
 Terminal Passengers:           down – 3.1% in July 2010  to 3,431,100 passengers approx
Air Transport Movements:     down  – 5.1% to 23,319 ATMs
Air Cargo :                           up + 95%  to 9,559 metric tonnes
 Figures for Gatwick for June 2010
 Source:  Gatwick press release  ( June 2010 figures compared to June 2009)
 Terminal Passengers:           down – 0.8% in June 2010  to 3,046,100 passengers approx
Air Transport Movements:     down  – 2.1% to 21,868 ATMs
Air Cargo :                            up + 75.8%  to 9,089 metric tonnes
Figures for Gatwick for May 2010

Source:   Gatwick press release  (May 2010 compared to May 2009)

Terminal Passengers:         down – 4.1%  2,730,900 passengers approx
Air Transport Movements:   down – 4.2%  20,859 ATMs
Air Cargo :                          up 7+ 4.7% to 9,674 metric tonnes
 (Long haul flights to destinations other then North America grew by +10.4%.  North American fell by – 14.4%).
Figures for Gatwick for April 2010

Source: Gatwick press release for more details  (for 6 days in April UK airspace was closed due to the volcanic ash)

Terminal Passengers:         down – 20.2% in Apr 2010 compared to Apr 2010
Air Transport Movements:    down – 18.9% in Apr 2010 compared to Apr 2010
Air Cargo :                          up + 50.3% in Apr 2010 compared to Apr 2010
Figures for Gatwick for March 2010

Source: Gatwick press release for more details

Terminal Passengers:          up + 3.0% in Mar 2010 compared to Mar 2010
Air Transport Movements:    down – 0.9% in Mar 2010 compared to Mar 2010
Air Cargo :                           up + 65.8% in Mar 2010 compared to Mar 2010
Figures for Gatwick for February 2010

Source: Gatwick press release for more details

Terminal Passengers:          up + 3.2% in Feb 2010 compared to Feb 2010
Air Transport Movements:    up + 3.5% in Feb 2010 compared to Feb 2010
Air Cargo :                           up + 38.9% in Feb 2010 compared to Feb 2010
Figures for Gatwick for January 2010  (snowy)

Source:  Gatwick press release for more details

Terminal Passengers:           down – 5.4% in Jan 2010 compared to Jan 2010
Air Transport Movements:     down – 7.0 % in Jan 2010 compared to Jan 2010
Air Cargo :                             up + 6.1% in Jan 2010 compared to Jan 2010
  
Figures for Gatwick  for all of 2009 compared to 2008
Source:   Gatwick press release  for more details 
Passengers:                         down – 5.3%  in 2009 (32.370,000)
Air Transport Movements:    down – 4.3% in 2008  (256.364)
Air Freight:                           down – 30.6 % in 2008  (107,719.6 tonnes)

2009

Figures for Gatwick for December 2009

Source:  Gatwick press release  for more details

Terminal Passengers:            up + 1.5% in Dec 2009 compared to Dec 2008.
Air Transport Movements:      down – 0.4% in Dec 2009 compared to Dec 2008.
Air Freight:                             up + 19.2% in Dec 2009 compared to Dec 2008
Also  BAA statistics going back many years
 BAA figures for Gatwick for November 2009

Source: BAA press release for more details

Passengers:                        Up +4.5% in Nov 2009 compared to Nov 2008.
Air Transport Movements:     Up +4.8% in Nov 2009 compared to Nov 2008.
Air Freight:                          Up +5.2% in Nov 2009 compared to Nov 2008
BAA figures for Gatwick for October 2009 
Source: BAA press release for more details
 Passengers:                       Up 1.8%  in Oct 2009 compared to Oct 2008.
Air Transport Movements:    down – 0.2% in Oct 2009 compared to Oct 2008.
Air Freight:                         Down -8% in Oct 2009 compared to Oct 2008
 
BAA figures for Gatwick for September 2009
Source: BAA press release for more details
 Passengers:                    down – 0.5% in Sept 2009 compared to Sept 2008.
Air Traffic Movements:      down – 0.4% in Sept 2009 compared to Sept 2008.
Air Freight:                       down – 21.7% in Sept 2009 compared to Sept 2008
 BAA figures for Gatwick for August 2009
Source: BAA press release for more details
 Passengers:                      down – 4.6% in Aug 2009 compared to Aug 2008.
Air Traffic Movements:       down – 3.5% in Aug 2009 compared to Aug 2008.
Air Freight:                        down – 19.1% in Aug 2009 compared to Aug 2008
BAA figures for Gatwick for July 2009
Source: BAA press release for more details
 Passengers:                      down 4.8% in July 2009 compared to July 2008.
Air Traffic Movements:     down – 3.7% in July 2009 compared to July 2008.
Air Freight:                        down – 34.1% in July 2009 compared to July 2008
BAA figures for Gatwick for June 2009
Source: BAA press release for more details
 Passengers:                      down  7.6% in June 2009 compared to June 2008.
Air Traffic Movements:     down – 6.6% in June 2009 compared to June 2008.
Air Freight:                        down – 32.7% in June 2009 compared to June 2008.

BAA figures for Gatwick for May 2009

Source: BAA press release for more details

Passengers:                      down –  6.5% in May 2009 compared to May 2008.
Air Traffic Movements:     down –  5.6% in May 2009 compared to May 2008.
Air Freight:                        down –  21.5% in May 2009 compared to May 2008.

 

BAA figures for Gatwick for April 2009

(Easter was in April in 2009 but in March 2008)
Source: BAA press release for more details
 Passengers:                       down – 3.0% in April 2009 compared to April 2008.
Air Traffic Movements:      down – 5.1% in April 2009 compared to April 2008.
Air Freight:                         down – 37.1% in April 2009 compared to April 2008.

 

BAA figures for Gatwick for March 2009

Source: BAA press release for more details

Passengers:                    down – 17.7% in March 2009 compared to March 2008.
Air Traffic Movements:    down – 8.8 % in March 2009 compared to March 2008.
Air Freight:                       down – 55.2% in March 2009 compared to March 2008.

 

BAA figures for Gatwick for February 2009

Source:  BAA press release for more details

Passengers:                     down – 14.4% in Feb 2009 compared to Feb 2008.
Air Traffic Movements:     down – 11.9% in Feb 2009 compared to Feb 2008.
Air Freight:                        down  – 56.9% in Feb 2009 compared to Feb 2008.

 

BAA figures for Gatwick for January 2009

Source:   BAA press release  for more details

Passengers:                     down – 10.8% in Jan 2009 compared to Jan 2008.
Air Traffic Movements:     down – 9.6% in Jan 2009 compared to  Jan 2008.
Air Freight:                        down –  49.4% in Jan 2009 compared to Jan 2008.

 

 BAA figures for Gatwick for December 2008

Source:   BAA press release  for more details

Passengers:                    down – 13.8% in Dec 2008 compared to  Dec 2007.
Air Traffic Movements:   down – 9.4% in Dec 2008 compared to  Dec 2007.
Air Freight:                       down – 52.5% in Dec 2008 compared to Dec 2007

BAA figures for Gatwick for all of 2008 – compared to 2007

Source:   BAA press release  for more details 

Passengers:                    down -2.8%  in 2008 compared to 2007.
Air Traffic Movements:   down – 0.9% in 2008 compared to 2007.
Air Freight:                       down – 37.1% in 2008 compared to 2007