London Gatwick today announces this winter’s most sought-after global cities, revealing its top 10 fastest growing destinations, and which brand-new destinations will be served with direct flights.
Destinations outside of Europe which can be found on the airport’s top 10 fastest-growing route list include China’s biggest city and global financial centre Shanghai, and the Moroccan port city of Tangier, which have risen by 416% and 50% respectively. Incumbent carrier China Eastern Airlines will increase its flights from three times weekly to daily this winter, just as Air China begins its four times weekly operation from the Chinese city in November.
A stampede of visitors to North America is also expected from Gatwick this winter, as Calgary in Canada also features inside the top 10, with seats up by 50%, while Jordan’s only coastal city Aqaba is +106% and Turkey’s capital Ankara +91%.
The top ten list also reveals heightened passenger demand for destinations closer to home, reflecting Gatwick’s yet further appeal for business traffic and city breaks. This winter, travellers looking to trade in commercial cities like Düsseldorf (+221%) and Paris (+24%), just outside the top 10, can now conduct their business more easily as a result of extra seats to these markets. Culture vultures and gastro tourists alike will equally welcome the increased capacity to Budapest (+90%), Bilbao (+82%) Dubrovnik (+59%) or Krakow (+37%), giving city-breakers greater choice this winter from Gatwick.
New flights launched earlier in the year which are also available this winter include Miami and San Francisco in the USA, Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, Milan Bergamo and Ancona in Italy, Asturias in Spain, as well as Gdansk and Cluj-Napoca in Eastern Europe. Served 14 times weekly last winter, Doha will be operated 18 times weekly by Qatar Airways this winter season.
As passengers’ travel appetites become more diverse, Gatwick is helping to cater for this segmenting demand by preparing to add three more destinations to its network this winter.
New Route Frequency Airline
Kuwait City, Kuwait Daily flights Jazeera Airways
San Jose del Cabo, Mexico Two flights per week TUI Airways
Memmingen, Germany Weekly flights TUI Airways
Gatwick, which offers more destinations than any other UK airport, is also Europe’s ninth busiest airport. With close to 9.5 million departing seats on sale this winter, including over 600,000 during half-term, the airport is ideally placed to divulge which are the most-wanted destinations for UK travellers.
Stephen King, Head of Airline Relations, Gatwick Airport said:
“The appetite for new destinations and extra seats continues unabated at Gatwick, even as we near 47 million passengers annually. Unveiling yet more carriers and routes this winter shows airlines are growing well as passengers respond to the new choices available.
“This winter I’m delighted that once again we have new airlines joining Gatwick alongside a wealth of carriers growing capacity. Whether it’s new carriers like Jazeera Airways, which has chosen Gatwick as its first destination in Western Europe, additional capacity to China or existing airlines growing their seat offer, this winter is great news for passengers looking for something fresh and exciting or returning to a favourite destination.”
Quelle: Gatwick Airport
