Gatwick Airport sees surge in flights; Spain remains top destination

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Gatwick Airport sees surge in flights; Spain remains top destination

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Gatwick Airport | Wikipedia

By Sky Industry News

May 11, 2025

The London skyline is bustling with air traffic, as the city hosts six international airports. Among them, London Gatwick Airport (LGW) stands as the second-busiest after Heathrow. Despite having two runways, Gatwick can only use one at a time due to their proximity, making it the world's second-busiest single-runway airport.

Gatwick serves more destinations than any other UK airport and is a base for airlines like EasyJet and British Airways. According to data from Cirium, Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport in Spain tops the list of European destinations with 376 flights scheduled from Gatwick in May 2025. This Spanish destination is popular among tourists for its sunny beaches and cultural attractions.

Data reveals that Spain dominates as a preferred destination for travelers flying out of Gatwick, with six out of fifteen top destinations located there. Italy and Turkey follow with two destinations each in the top 15 list.

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Gatwick has been attracting new airlines due to lower usage fees compared to Heathrow. In 2025, six additional airlines joined Gatwick's roster, including Vueling and Royal Brunei Airlines. Wizz Air also expanded its operations by adding a long-haul route from Gatwick to Medina.

Heathrow has plans for expansion with a third runway project supported by the UK government. Meanwhile, Gatwick aims to move its second runway to increase capacity but faces local opposition due to potential noise increases.

Stewart Wingate, CEO of London Gatwick Airport, stated: “This project represents a £2.2 billion investment, fully funded by our shareholders and it is essential that any planning conditions enable us to make full use of the northern runway."

Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander expressed tentative support for this plan if certain conditions are met regarding public transport usage and environmental impacts.

With these developments at both airports, British holidaymakers may soon have more options for international travel.