Businesses across the South East exported £479 million of goods and services to India – more than any region outside London – according to the latest Government figures1.
These impressive trade volumes – and the jobs they support – have been given a further boost today as Air India starts flight from London Gatwick Airport. This will see 12 flights departing every week to Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Kochi and Goa.
The airport’s long-haul network – which currently serves 47 global destinations – has been shown to support the economy by facilitating increased exports and imports. The vast majority of cargo handled at the airport goes in the belly of long-haul passenger aircraft, such as these Air India flights. Cargo volumes would also double if Gatwick’s Northern Runway is brought into routine use.
The new Air India flights will also support tourism in both countries and provide convenient journeys for passengers from the large Indian communities in London and the South East, to visit friends and family in India.
Gatwick wants to invest in its long-term future and is preparing a planning application to bring the airport’s Northern Runway into regular use, for departures only, alongside its Main Runway. This low impact plan will improve resilience, reduce delays, and provide a significant boost to the regional economy by supporting trade, tourism and new jobs.
Read more here