Gatwick Airport’s cargo volumes have continued their recovery, rising by 12.7 per cent in August to 6,396 tonnes.

The August 2016 figure was above the 5,677 tonnes handled in the same month of 2015, but August 2015 had seen a 26 per cent year-on-year fall from the 7,668 tonnes processed in August 2014. On a moving annual basis, cargo volumes are still down 5.4 per cent between September 2015 and August 2016 to 73,815 tonnes.

Gatwick Airport chief financial officer, Nick Dunn says: “Politically, economically and environmentally, the case for Gatwick expansion has never been stronger. Momentum is with Gatwick as business leaders and politicians continue to unite behind Gatwick, post – referendum Britain needs certainty – a straightforward scheme which can be promptly delivered and that’s Gatwick.”

The hub to the South of London saw long-haul routes grow by 25 per cent year-on-year in August 2016 with North American services increasing 51 per cent, with Vancouver growing 96 per cent, followed by Montreal at 63 per cent and Los Angeles by 51 per cent.

On 2 September, Cathay Pacific started four times a week Gatwick – Hong Kong services using an Airbus A350-900.