Speaking at the Westminster Energy, Environment and Transport Forum today (January 31), Gatwick CEO, Stewart Wingate, said the airport had made significant strides in attracting new airlines and long haul routes in the past three years, name-checking carriers such as Turkish Airlines and Norwegian.

He said: “We’re starting to gain connections to the emerging economies in the last three years.

“We have routes to China and Vietnam and we have been very active, particularly with the CIVETS and BRIC countries.

“Later this week, we anticipate another new long-haul service starting at Gatwick.”

The Gatwick boss remained tight-lipped on the airline involved, but it is understood that the new route will be to a destination in Asia. It is likely the official announcement will be made this Friday.

Meanwhile, Wingate admitted that a second runway at Gatwick would not be built at the same time as a third runway at London Heathrow.