LONDON, June 26 (Reuters) - Gatwick Airport,Britain's second busiest airport which is competing to be chosenas the site for a new runway, said rising passenger numbershelped boost core earnings in its last financial year.
Gatwick, which is privately owned and run by GlobalInfrastructure Partners (GIP), posted earnings before interest,taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) of 259.4 millionpounds in the twelve months ended March 31, 14.2 percent higherthan the year earlier period.
Earnings were boosted by a 4.8 percent rise in the number oftravellers using the airport, with airlines such as easyJet, Norwegian and IAG unit BritishAirways adding services.
Gatwick, south of London, has been short listed by agovernment commission as a possible location for a new runway inthe densely populated London area, along with two options at thecountry's busiest airport Heathrow.
"Gatwick's growth to around 36 million passengers this yeardemonstrates how we are successfully competing in the Londonmarket and why we are best-placed to deliver the UK's next newrunway," chief executive Stewart Wingate said in a statement onThursday.
Heathrow, located west of London, handled 72.3 millionpassengers in 2013.
Lawmakers and business leaders agree that Britain needs newrunways to help it remain economically competitive but buildingmore capacity around London is unpopular with voters and adecision on expansion has been repeatedly pushed back.
The commission is due to make a recommendation on where tobuild the new runway next summer.
GIP retains a 42 percent controlling stake in Gatwick. Othershareholders are the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, NationalPension Service of Korea, California Public Employees'Retirement System and the Future Fund of Australia. (Reporting by Sarah Young, Editing by Paul Sandle)
easyJet (EZJ)