Gatwick CEO Stewart Wingate said the airport is the only “legal solution” to Britain’s aviation capacity crisis.
Speaking as Gatwick unveiled record monthly traffic results, Wingate said if the government backs the airport it will “finally solve” the lack of capacity in the south east.
“Our plan is legal, affordable, cleaner and quieter and will deliver for Britain,” said Wingate.
The chief executive’s comments come as Gatwick announced its 34th consecutive month of traffic growth. It achieved its busiest ever December with 2.7 million passengers travelling through the airport, a 4.7 per cent increase on the previous year.
The growth was helped by strong traffic to long-haul routes, which included a 14.7 per cent increase on north Atlantic routes for December and a 7.6 per cent rise year-on-year.
An additional 120,578 passengers travelled through London Gatwick in December compared to the same month in 2014.
Gatwick said passenger growth is the result of more air traffic movements per hour and larger aircraft being used by airlines. Average load factors were 78.5 per cent.
Wingate added: “Since independent ownership in 2009 we have grown rapidly and the benefits of competition are clear for passengers - more choice, higher standards and lower fares.
“A Government decision this year backing Gatwick expansion will mean that Britain finally solves its long standing problem of airport capacity in the South East.”
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