CBI member, Gatwick Airport has announced a new long-haul connection from London Gatwick to Shanghai off the back of record year on year growth of +20.8% during July.
The new service will be flown by China Eastern, which is China’s second largest airline, and will increase capacity between the two hubs by over 70,000 new seats and more than 3,7000 metric tonnes of cargo.
London Gatwick CEO, Stewart Wingate said: “I am delighted to welcome China Eastern to Gatwick and look forward to the start of this vital new link to Shanghai, which, like London, is undoubtedly one of the world’s most important cities and business hubs. Starting from such a strong position gives this new route every chance of success, as it will be popular with business passengers […] as well as leisure passengers keen to sample the excitement of China’s largest city.”
The launch of the new route follows the busiest July in Gatwick’s history, which saw the volume of cargo handled by the airport grow by +28.8% y/y as a direct result of its soaring long-haul demand.
On top of this, Gatwick/s Asia routes grew by +134.8% compared with July last year.
Mr. Wingate said, “July’s traffic figures demonstrate that Gatwick’s long-haul network is driving the airport’s growth. These connections to China and other non-European countries will take on extra significance in a post-Brexit Britain as [the UK] becomes more reliant on them to generate vital growth through trade and by exploiting the other business opportunities that they provide.”
China is taking on increasing significance in the aviation industry as size of the country’s middle class rapidly increases in number and develops an appetite for flying. It has been estimated that China will account for the largest number of out-bound travellers by 2030, with 260 million Chinese tourists set to make trips abroad over the next decade.
Please read more here.
Comments