Gatwick bosses hail new Argentina route

Gatwick bosses today hailed the airport’s new route to Buenos Aires as the strongest evidence yet of the airport’s transformation from “summer sun” gateway to the Med to genuine long-haul hub.

Low-cost airline Norwegian said last week it is starting the four times a week service from the East Sussex airport to Argentina next February with tickets starting from £299 one way.

Today Gatwick added its 60th long-haul route when chief executive Stewart Wingate said China Airlines will start a new service to Taipei in December.

The airport, which posted results today, said the number of long-haul passengers passing through Gatwick rose by 13.6% in the year to end March compared with an overall rise of 7.7%.

It will handle a record 45 million passengers this year. Revenues were up 7.7% to £725 million but pre-tax profits fell slightly to £131.8 million.