The airport saw passenger numbers plunge 99.6% in the second quarter and says a recovery to previous levels could take five years.
"Despite the immediate challenges I remain resolutely optimistic that Gatwick will recover and retain its position as one of the UK's leading travel hubs and economic driver for the region."
Gatwick reported a pre-tax loss of £343.9m for the first half of the year compared to a profit of £59.4m in the same period last year, as revenues fell 61% to £144.2m.That came as passenger numbers fell by 66% in the first half, with the figure even starker for the April-June period alone when they fell 99.6% - from 12.5 million last year to just 45,149.
Gatwick remained open through the period serving skeleton services from Ryanair and Wizz Air as well as repatriation, freight and maintenance flights. Services gradually resumed over the summer but the return of passengers was held back by quarantine measures on tourist hotspots such as Spain. Gatwick is currently operating from its North Terminal only, and the airport is at 20% of capacity compared to the same time last year and with 75% of staff on furlough."Over 740 employees have permanently left or agreed to leave the business through a combination of voluntary and compulsory severance with further reductions expected in Q3," the airport said.
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