Gatwick Airport’s cargo volumes increased 24.4 per cent in 2017 helped by a rapidly expanding long-haul network.

The airport located 30 miles south of central London handled 97,045 tonnes in 2017 compared to 77,995 tonnes in 2016, with volumes in December rising 33.6 per cent to 9,849 tonnes.

It has welcomed new routes to destinations including Singapore, Rwanda, Seattle and Denver.

Asia was also another growth area, with Hong Kong and Tianjin proving popular routes, and China Airlines launched services to Taipei at the start of December.

Gatwick Airport chief executive officer, Stewart Wingate says: “Gatwick’s soaring long-haul and cargo growth in December is an impressive conclusion to 2017 and we’ll be strengthening the airport’s global connectivity even further this year, with new services to Buenos Aires, Austin and Chicago already confirmed to begin in the first quarter alone.”

He adds: “This year, we’re also looking forward to British Airways’ biggest summer schedule at Gatwick for almost ten years, which will see 15 per cent more weekly BA flights than last summer.”