Heathrow, Gatwick and the Channel Tunnel hit fresh highs despite Christmas Eve chaos

 

Nick Goodway
Monday 13 January 2014 11:51 GMT
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Frustrated passengers wait in the departure hall of Gatwick's North Terminal on Christmas Eve
Frustrated passengers wait in the departure hall of Gatwick's North Terminal on Christmas Eve

Record numbers of passengers travelled through London’s two main airports and under the Channel last month in the great Christmas getaway.

Despite massive disruptions to flights following the flooding of an electricity substation on Christmas Eve, Gatwick handled 2.13 million passengers in December, a 4.8 per cent rise.

There was no mention of the cancellations and delays in today’s press release. Gatwick chief executive Stewart Wingate last week apologised to passengers and told MPs the airport “could and should have done more” for customers.

Some 5.8 million passengers passed through Heathrow in December, a 2.8 per cent rise on the previous year. Chief executive Colin Matthews again said it was vital the Airports Commission choose expansion of Heathrow as the best way to serve the country.

Eurotunnel had a record holiday season with 210,000 passenger vehicles using its Le Shuttle service between 13 December and 5 January.

It also carried a record 1393 dogs and cats from France to the UK on 4 January.

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