London Gatwick handled a total of 10,175 tonnes of cargo in November, a 25.6% increase on the same month of 2016.

The new long-haul routes through the gateway added this year pushed bellyhold cargo volumes up significantly.

Five new long-haul connections have been launched this year from Gatwick: to Singapore, Seattle, Denver, Kigali and Taipei.

Connectivity is set to further increase next year, with new connections scheduled to launch to Austin, Chicago and Buenos Aires in just the first quarter of 2018 alone.

Stewart Wingate, Gatwick Airport CEO, observed: “For both our local region and the whole country Gatwick is set to play an increased global role for as we grow.

“We’re ready and prepared to build our financeable and deliverable second runway scheme so that Britain can reap the benefits of greater global connectivity faster.”

In October, Gatwick’s airfreight throughput rose by 32.1% year-on-year to reach 10,316 tonnes.