Gatwick has warned about capacity challenges after it announced a 9.2 per cent year-on-year increase in passenger traffic.
The airport said it expects to serve more than 40 million passengers next year, a decade ahead of Department for Transport predictions, made in its January 2013 UK aviation forecast.
This has led to Gatwick CEO Stewart Wingate to outline concerns over a squeeze on capacity.
“Our continued growth has limits, and we urge the new government to act swiftly after the election to unlock the capacity challenges for the southeast.
“Expanding Gatwick would promote competition in the airport sector and keep travel affordable at a time of economic recovery,” Wingate said.
In March, Gatwick saw record breaking traffic with 2.96 million passengers passing through the airport – a 9.2 per cent rise compared to last year.
The annual total shows 38.7 million travelled through between April 2014 and March 2015 – an increase of 7.8 per cent.
Wingate added: “The figures speak for themselves – we need to build a second runway in order to realise our potential and to maximise the nation’s connectivity to the rest of the world.
“Let us deliver against our promise to build a new runway sooner, at lower cost, and without the environmental obstacles that Heathrow would face.”
Last week, Gatwick vowed to launch a £20 million fund to support new domestic flights if the airport is allowed to build a second runway.