‘We’re not stopping’ – London Gatwick working on ‘all fronts’ to expand network and connectivity
London Gatwick are working on ‘all fronts’ to expand the airport’s network and connectivity, according to chief executive Pierre-Hugues Schmit.
Gatwick welcomed seven new carriers in the six months to June 30, including Jet2, Air France, Condor and Eurowings, and saw a significant increase in the number of carriers serving the airport.
A further two airlines – Air Zimbabwe and Air Arabia – also launched in the second half of this year.
And Mr Schmit said: “We’re not stopping! I’m very enthusiastic about long-term growth but we are equally motivated by short-term or mid-term opportunities.
“The fact that we have nine new carriers already in 2026 is an illustration of our motivation in the short-term.
“We are very pleased with the density of our operation at Gatwick. We’re fairly full, especially in the early hours, but in truth we are also not that full in the afternoon, so there is room for us to grow and to welcome more airlines today, next year, without having to wait for the new runway.
“We are engaging new airlines, we’re engaging existing carriers to see how we can support their growth.
“For example, Jet 2 has had a fantastic start this year at the end of March. They’ve already added destinations in the winter, and they have already put in more destinations for summer 2027 than they had in summer 2026.
“We’re really trying to work on all fronts to grow our connectivity.”