Gatwick airport has reported an increase of 6.9% in passengers during the last year, with numbers growing every month.
But it added that the previous year’s results were affected by the Icelandic volanic ash cloud, industrial action and heavy snowfall.
Reductions in long haul have been offset by the addition of new carriers from Asia.
Hong Kong Airlines started a daily service to Hong Kong in early March, Korean Air will start flights to Seoul at the end of April and Air China is to start services to Beijing at the beginning of May.
March passenger figures were up 3.9% compared to last year with the airport continuing to see growth in short haul – especially from low cost carriers.
Stewart Wingate, chief executive of Gatwick airport said: "We have been competing vigorously with other London airports including Heathrow, Stansted and Luton and we have been winning new routes to the UK’s key trading partners, providing direct connections between London and high growth economies.
