GATWICK achieved its busiest ever October as 3.9 million passengers travelled through the airport.

Long-haul traffic continued its booming growth, up 13.3 per cent in the month.

This growth drove soaring cargo tonnage up almost one third on the previous year.

The cargo rise is the result of Gatwick’s increasing global connectivity with 22 new long-haul routes added in the last 12 months.

These include Cape Town, Kigali, Singapore, Hong Kong, Chicago, Austin, Denver and Seattle.

Gatwick Airport CEO Stewart Wingate said: “October’s soaring cargo growth is the latest by-product of Gatwick’s ever increasing long-haul network, providing passengers with more choice of connections globally.

“We’re on the verge of serving 46 million passengers this year, up from 31 million in 2010.

“That’s a 50 per cent increase in total passenger numbers in just seven years.

“Alongside this passenger growth we’ve also invested to improve experience at the airport, reducing queuing times, adding more choice in retail, improving our on-time performance and achieving record-levels of passenger satisfaction. Improvements all recognised in Gatwick’s recent award wins.

“Passengers are voting with their feet to choose Gatwick. All we need now is a way to satisfy their growing demand.”

Passenger growth at Gatwick in October was affected by Monarch ceasing trading.

Monarch carried 4.5 per cent of flights which is an average of 285 flights per week.

Prior to Monarch entering into administration, Gatwick’s passenger growth was up seven per cent as a monthly average this year.

Alongside this traffic growth, Gatwick has scooped a string of top accolades this month, including Airport of the Year at the National Transport Awards and UK’s Best Airport at the Airport Operators Association Awards.