Dozens of new flights will be taking off from Gatwick this winter despite a halt to plans to build a second runway.

Today's announcement has been welcomed by business leaders who believe it shows the airport is still successful and will continue to grow even without a second runway before 2019.

New services include flights to Moscow, Mexico, Bulgaria and Egypt.

Roger Cato, BAA Gatwick's managing director, said: "It was a busy summer at Gatwick, culminating in August when we posted our best set of passenger traffic figures since September 11, which is extremely encouraging.

"We're continuing to attract the right mix of airlines and routes to the airport which is great news for passengers as well as ensuring the continued growth and prosperity of Gatwick as a major international airport.

"It is always nice to welcome new carriers and routes and we will be working alongside those to help make their services a success, while equally promoting the airport to potential new carriers."

An airport spokesman said they were trying to put the message across that Gatwick is still going to grow.

Plans to build a second runway were excluded in a recent Government consultation paper because of a 23-year-old agreement which prohibits building until at least 2019 but BAA has predicted passenger numbers will go up from 30 to 40 million during the next ten years.

Russian carrier Transaero has moved its operation from Heathrow to Gatwick, and will operate six scheduled weekly services to Moscow which will cater primarily for the business traveller, while Air France is introducing a new twice-daily service to Clermont-Ferrand.

Astraeus, the new charter airline which made its debut at the airport in April, is launching an extensive winter programme with more than 20 destinations across Europe and into Africa. The network includes new services to Aswan and Taba in Egypt.

A further new route is Avila, Mexico, with both Monarch and JMC operating a weekly service.

And other new charter carriers this winter include Italian airline Azzura Air, which will run weekly services to Las Palmas, Arrecife and Paphos. Balkan Holidays will be strengthening Gatwick's connections to Eastern Europe with weekly services to the Bulgarian destinations of Plovdiv and Sofia.

Virgin Atlantic is already looking ahead to summer 2003, announcing new services to Tobago and Grenada.

Business leaders say it is still important for a second runway to be considered.

Mark Froud, chief executive at Sussex enterprise, said: "If the demand for air slots continues to increase so will the need for expansion. The Government must include Gatwick in the debate on the future of air transport in the UK."

Crawley MP Laura Moffatt, who is due to meet Transport Secretary Alistair Darling to make sure Gatwick is not forgotten, said: "I am asking him how we can make sure Gatwick is at the heart of a family of airports."