Gatwick Airport has enjoyed a record breaking 2016, thanks to fans of the hit HBO TV series "Game of Thrones." But it's not only the HBO series' that helped the airport, as it also got some royal assistance with Prince Harry's constant trip to Toronto.
According to the Express report, 43 million passengers had passed through Gatwick Airport in 2016, which is up by three million compared to 2015. December provided a big increase, gaining 15 percent compared to the same month in 2015.
A big reason for the uptick is due to the number of fans who are going to Belfast, where the set of "Game of Thrones" is located. Almost 400,000 more passengers flew to the Belfast International compared to 2015, an increase of 83 percent.
A spokesperson for Gatwick told the Express that "the 'Game of Thrones effect is well and truly established." But it's not only Belfast that contributed to the increase, long-haul flights, particularly to Toronto, Canada, also contributed to the increase.
The report attributes the increase to Prince Harry's trips to Toronto to see his girlfriend Meghan Markle. People traveling for the holidays were inspired by the prince's travels, as the airport saw 191,124 passengers traveling to Toronto in 2016.
The Evening Standard adds that Dublin and New York also saw an increase in passengers traveling to these cities. Gatwick Airport CEO Stewart Wingate was happy with the milestones and the figures. He said that the achievement is "an impressive conclusion" to the year the airport celebrated its 80th anniversary.
The Gatwick Airport expects Barbados, Jamaica, Dubai, Las Vegas, Orlando, New York, and Vancouver to be the top destinations for long-haul flights this 2017. Take a tour of the airport's new gate rooms in the video below. In other news, Season 7 of "Game of Thrones" is going the extra mile to set-up a grand finale.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
