One of the UK’s busiest airports has been named one of the world’s worst in a major snub. However, the hub has a £2.2 billion regeneration plan which could help turn its reputation around
A major UK airport has been dealt a fresh blow after being crowned one of the world’s worst – but that could all soon change. Last year, London Gatwick Airport handled a staggering 43.2 million passengers, marking a 5.7 per cent spike compared to 2023, and making it one of the country’s busiest hubs.
The influx resulted in an 11.3 per cent increase in revenue – which came to an impressive £1,130.3 million – and was attributed to ‘significant growth’ in airline and destination choice. However, in AirHelp’s global airport league tables – Gatwick’s success doesn’t seem so bright.
The airport came 235th out of a possible 250th, the lowest of all UK hubs. It received a measly 6.81 AirHelp Score – which is based on three separate criteria (on-time performance, customer opinion, and ‘food and shops’ offerings).
London Stansted did slightly better, ranking 230th with an overall score of 6.85 – while Manchester came 220th, and Birmingham ranked 214th. The highest-ranking UK airport was Liverpool John Lennon – which came a respectable 35th, and received a 7.99 AirHelp score. However, the gold medal was awarded to Cape Town Airport in South Africa.
Gatwick’s snub may only be short-lived though, as the hub has unveiled its ambitious regeneration plans to the tune of £2.2 billion. The privately-financed proposals include moving the runway (currently used as a standby) by 12 metres to allow the airport to have a second fully functioning runway.
“This much needed growth plan meets the Government’s test of making best use of existing infrastructure and maximising growth,” Gatwick said in a statement. “Because the runway already exists, the project will all be completed with little disruption, and we will continue to be Europe’s most efficient single runway airport until the project is complete.”
The huge project aims to help drive the economy, business growth and tourism growth – and is predicted to inject an additional £1 billion into the UK economy every year. The makeover will also create around 14,000 jobs across the UK.
£140 million will be pumped into extending its pier six to provide eight new aircraft gates adjacent to the airport runways. This will save around one million passengers from having to use buses to reach remote aircraft stands each year.
As previously reported, the airport is also scrapping fuel-guzzling buses for a futuristic fleet of EV trams which will be deployed around Christmas time. This £14 million revamp is expected to save 17.7 tCO2e in carbon emissions per year, and is a major part of the airport’s sustainability efforts to decarbonise the aviation industry.
Responding to the league tables, a London Gatwick spokesperson told the Mirror: “With 43.2 million annual passengers, London Gatwick is the UK’s second largest and one of Europe’s top 10 airports. London Gatwick is the most efficient single runway airport in the world with a declared capacity of 55 movements an hour.
“Almost 60 airlines fly from the airport to more than 220 destinations, including over 50 long-haul routes. Passengers received great service as the airport hit 99 per cent of its service standard metrics across 2024. Our world-beating security gets more than 95 per cent of passengers through in under five minutes and 95 per cent of passengers rated their overall departure experience as good or excellent.”
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