GATWICK AIRPORT HELPS STRENGTHEN BRITAIN'S CONNECTIVITY TO EMERGING GROWTH MARKETS
• Korean Air launches its first flight from Gatwick to Seoul, South Korea
• Gatwick continues to attract long-haul carriers serving the UK’s key trading routes
Gatwick Airport welcomes the arrival of Korean Air which has chosen Gatwick to expand its London-Seoul operations, providing passengers with flights to the South Korean Capital three times per week. Korean Air will operate a Boeing 777 aircraft in a three-class cabin configuration, providing a choice of 225 seats in Economy Class, 28 in Prestige (business) Class and eight in First Class.
Guy Stephenson, Gatwick Airport’s Chief Commercial Officer says: “Attracting airlines that serve emerging growth markets is one of our key ambitions so it is exciting that Korean Air has chosen Gatwick to expand its London-Seoul network.
“We hear a lot about how the London airports system is full and that as a result the country’s connectivity to the rest of the world is weakening. Gatwick is not full and we are very much open for business. With around 25% spare capacity on our single runway, we are very well placed to accommodate long-haul customers and ensure Britain continues to have the connectivity to compete globally.
“Carriers like Korean Air are choosing to operate from Gatwick because of the fast and convenient rail connectivity to the city as compared with other London airports. Our geographical location also means that around 15 million people are within an hour’s journey of the airport. The combination of these two factors means airlines are in a good position to serve London from Gatwick, and at less the cost of Heathrow.“
Mr. Jeong Soo Park, General Manager for Korean Air’s London office said: “We are pleased to announce our UK route frequency increase with the introduction of London’s Gatwick Airport. In addition to increasing the choice for our business travellers, we also look forward to welcoming leisure passengers looking to travel to Asia and beyond. This expansion reflects our ongoing commitment to providing convenient flight times and access to South Korea, as well as onward connections to South East Asia and Australasia. We look forward to welcoming our first customers through Gatwick this year and building a long-term relationship with the airport.”
Gatwick has been competing vigorously since the change in ownership in December 2009. It has been winning new routes to the UK’s key trading partners and providing direct connections between London and high growth economies. In addition to South Korea, Gatwick has attracted new routes to Turkey, Vietnam, Hong Kong and the Caribbean. Later this week Air China will launch non-stop, four weekly services to Beijing.
Over the past two-and-a-half years, Gatwick has been transforming the airport through a £1.2 billion investment programme to compete for airlines and grow passenger numbers.
The delivery of speedier check-in and security processes for passengers and the introduction of tailored services that better meet the needs of the different types of travellers are just a few of the reasons why airlines are choosing to operate from Gatwick.
