Gatwick Airport boss reveals new Shanghai route as Brexit looms

The boss of Gatwick Airport today unveiled plans for a major new Shanghai route and claimed flights to China will become increasingly important once Britain withdraws from the EU.

Stewart Wingate has agreed a deal with carrier China Eastern to transport 70,000 passengers a year between Gatwick and Shanghai Pudong airport.

The service, which launches in December, also has capacity for 3700 metric tonnes of cargo annually.

Wingate called Shanghai “one of the world’s most important cities and business hubs”.

The chief executive predicted it would be popular with tourists and business passengers.

He added: “These connections to China and other non-European countries will take on extra significance in a post-Brexit Britain as we become more reliant on them to generate vital growth through trade and by exploiting the other business opportunities that they provide.”

Shanghai was one of the cities Prime Minister Theresa May visited on a state trip to China this year.

During the trip she said Britain is looking to deepen trade relations with nations around the world, including China.

Brexit jitters sent the pound down 0.43 cent at $1.2906 today.

Gatwick revealed the new route alongside an update on the airport’s busiest-ever July.

It saw passenger numbers climb 1% to 4.8 million, which was boosted by a surge in long-haul trips to Asia, New York, Boston and Las Vegas.

That helped to offset a decline in fewer customers on domestic flights after Ryanair relocated to Stansted for its routes to Belfast.

Gatwick airport, which is majority owned by investment fund Global Infrastructure Partners, wants the government to back its bid to expand its existing West Sussex site instead of, or in addition to, rival Heathrow’s plan for a third runway.

GIP is reportedly considering a sale of its majority stake in the airport.