London's Gatwick Airport reported a rise in earnings and passenger numbers last year, helped by a daily A380 service to Dubai by Emirates Airline.
Britain’s second-busiest airport, which is competing to be chosen as the site for a new runway, reported earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization of £259.4 million (Dh1.61 billion) in the 12 months ended on March 31. That was a 14.2 per cent increase on a year earlier.
Turnover rose 10.2 per cent to £593.7m, while the number of passengers using the airport also rose by almost 5 per cent.
The airport has been shortlisted by a government commission as a possible location for a new runway, along with two options at the country’s busiest airport, Heathrow.
“Gatwick’s record performance and growth to about 36 million passengers this year demonstrates how we are successfully competing in the London market and why we are best-placed to deliver the UK’s next new runway,” said the chief executive, Stewart Wingate.
“Airlines and passengers are increasingly choosing to fly from Gatwick and this growth is expected to continue. Expansion at Gatwick would ensure London can effectively compete with its European neighbours and provide essential air links that the UK needs to both established and emerging markets.”
Heathrow and Gatwick face growing competition from Arabian Gulf hubs such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha, which are gaining transit passengers at the expense of European airports.
Emirates started its daily A380 service to London last year, thereby adding 25 per cent more capacity on the route.
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