India Among Top Priority Markets for London Gatwick Airport
London Gatwick Airport has identified India as one of its key focus markets for expansion, according to the airport’s Chief Commercial Officer Jonathan Pollard. In an exclusive interview, Pollard revealed that India is currently among London Gatwick’s top three target markets for growth.
London Gatwick has seen significant increases in air traffic and flight frequencies between the UK and India over the past two years. Air India now operates 24 weekly flights connecting four Indian cities – Kochi, Amritsar, Ahmedabad and Goa – to London Gatwick. A new Bengaluru route is scheduled to commence in August.
Pollard expressed hope that Air India would triple their India operations from Gatwick airport in the coming years. He also stated that discussions are ongoing regarding adding more frequencies on existing routes as well as launching services to additional Indian destinations. While slot constraints are an industry-wide issue, Pollard remains optimistic about strengthening air connectivity between the two countries.
When asked about cost advantages, Pollard noted that airport charges at London Gatwick are approximately 50% lower than at London Heathrow. This lower cost structure positions Gatwick attractively for carriers. Pollard also foresees India-UK traffic tripling over the next decade, backed by strong demand drivers like business and tourism as well as the large Indian diaspora in the UK.
IndiGo’s upcoming fleet of long-haul Airbus A350 aircraft from 2027 were highlighted as opening new possibilities. While discussions are ongoing with multiple Indian and UK carriers, competition is expected to stimulate greater choice, frequencies and value for passengers. With potential approvals for dual runway operations by 2029, London Gatwick aims to maximize its role in expanding UK-India air connectivity.
