GATWICK achieved its 60th month of consecutive growth in February – marking five full years of month-on-month growth at the airport.

Three million passengers travelled through last month, 0.7 per cent up on 2017.

The airport is set to further increase the global connectivity it provides for passengers with Qatar Airways announcing a new route to Qatar, starting May.

Gatwick’s busiest ever February was fuelled by further significant growth in the airport’s long-haul routes which were16.7% up across the month.

This helped to drive a 37.2 per cent rise in the volume of cargo handled by Gatwick.

Chief Executive Officer Stewart Wingate said: “Our February traffic figures mark five consecutive years of growth and during this time Gatwick has been transformed by our ongoing £2.7 billion investment programme.

“Our passengers now have a wealth of choice through an extensive route network – including over 60 long haul routes - a variety of airlines plus world-class airport facilities.

“February’s passenger figures are the latest demonstration of Gatwick’s importance as a vital piece of UK infrastructure providing global connectivity at a time when the country needs it most.

“We have exciting plans for growth maximising the use of our existing facilities whilst we also offer the country the prospect of a financeable and deliverable new runway scheme.

““I am delighted to welcome Qatar Airways – one of the world’s premier airlines - to Gatwick for this exciting new double-daily service to Doha.

“Our existing airlines are also providing even more choice for passengers with Norwegian starting routes to Austin and Chicago this month while also adding 150,000 extra seats on their transatlantic services from Gatwick this summer.”

Asia routes performed particularly well as thousands of passengers travelled to and from the Far East to celebrate Chinese New Year.