Pierre-Hugues Schmit.
Pierre-Hugues Schmit has joined London Gatwick Airport (LGW) as CEO, taking the helm just weeks before the UK government issues a long-awaited ruling on the airport’s £2.2 billion ($2.8 billion) Northern Runway project.
Schmit succeeds Stewart Wingate, who, after 15 years leading LGW, moves into a new role as managing director of UK airports for Vinci Airports and Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), overseeing Gatwick, Edinburgh and Belfast airports.
Schmit had served as Vinci’s chief commercial and operational officer, covering a 70-airport portfolio across 14 countries that handled more than 300 million passengers annually. He was also a non-executive director on LGW’s board.
The leadership change comes at a pivotal time for the UK’s second-busiest airport as the government is considering whether to grant final approval to its plan to bring its standby northern taxiway into routine use as a second runway. The scheme involves shifting the northern taxiway about 12 m (40 ft.) north to meet separation requirements.
UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said in February she was “minded to approve” the application, subject to further consultation on operational controls around noise and public transport access. A final decision is due by Oct. 27.
LGW says the project would add much-needed resilience and capacity, creating 14,000 jobs and generating £1 billion ($1.3 billion) annually in economic benefits. The airport adds that the expansion would also enhance competition across London’s aviation market.
After handling 44 million passengers in 2024, LGW is currently served by a record 58 airlines, while its long-haul network includes more than 50 weekly flights to the Middle East, 39 to Africa and 36 to China. Wizz Air recently added long-haul services to Jeddah and Medina, Saudi Arabia, using its new Airbus A321XLR aircraft. However, British Airways in August announced it will suspend daily New York John F. Kennedy flights on Oct. 25.
In the first half of 2025, LGW handled 20 million passengers, with revenue rising to £491 million ($757 million), profit to £129 million ($173 million) and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) to £262 million ($351 million). Investments include a £7 million ($9 million) refurbishment of the South Terminal’s departure lounge and a new 3,000-space mid-stay parking lot serving the North Terminal.
“This is an exciting time to join, with more airlines than ever before using the airport and a final decision from the government on our Northern Runway planning application just weeks away,” Schmit says. “I’m looking forward to working with everyone to keep improving the service we provide and realizing the significant growth opportunities that lie ahead.”
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