Bosses at Gatwick have said the airport is experiencing one of its busiest summers yet, with 19.9 million passengers travelling through its two terminals in the first half of the year.

That is an increase of 7.7 per cent compared with the same period in 2023.

The airport recorded half-year revenues of £488 million, a rise of 15.3 per cent from a year earlier.

Underlying earnings were up 13.9 per cent year on year to £268 million, with net profit for the period up 33.8 per cent at £106 million.

Gatwick chief executive Stewart Wingate said: “With the growing demand for travel, we are experiencing one of our busiest summers yet.

“Thanks to robust planning and close collaboration with our partners we’ve had a strong start to 2024, ensuring a reliable and enjoyable experience for our passengers.

“I am delighted that we have once again achieved good service levels, as evidenced by meeting 100% of our service measures.

“Our teams have worked incredibly hard to achieve these results.

“As we continue to grow our network and offer more choice for passengers, we are working towards our vision to be the airport for everyone, whatever your journey.”

Service measures include factors such as the availability of seating in departure lounges, waiting times at security, and baggage delivery times.

Gatwick said its focus on developing new long-haul routes to airports in the Middle East, Asia and North America is attracting “a wider range of passengers”.

Recent new services include the introduction of Singapore Airlines flights to and from Singapore Changi Airport in June, while Air India launched flights between Gatwick and Bengaluru (Bangalore) this week.

The latest phase of Gatwick’s consultation on plans to bring its existing emergency northern runway into routine use ends next week.

If its request is approved, the runway could be used regularly by the end of the decade.

Mr Wingate said: “Through our northern runway project, we are demonstrating our commitment to growing sustainably, in line with our decade of change sustainability strategy and government policy.”