The Canadian low-cost airline WestJet is to start services between Gatwick airport and Canada next year, giving more competition to the transatlantic budget carrier Norwegian.

The Gatwick flights will be WestJet’s first to and from England. The airline already flies between Dublin and St John’s in Newfoundland and Labrador, and began services between Glasgow and Halifax in Nova Scotia last month.

WestJet’s chief executive, Gregg Saretsky, said: 'Gatwick is the ideal airport for our first transatlantic, wide-body destination. WestJet needs more well-managed and efficient airports like Gatwick to continue to offer the best fares available for our guests.'

Launched in 1996, WestJet flies to more than 120 destinations in 20 countries.

Manchester airport announced it handled almost 2.1 million passengers last month – up 2.8% on May 2014. This was despite the airport missing the usual boost from football fans in May, as none of north-west England’s teams made it to the last stages of European competitions.

Last month’s figure took the number of people passing through the airport in the 12 months ending May 2015 to more than 22.4 million. This was an increase of 6.21% on the total for the 12 months ending May 2014, and was Manchester’s highest ever rolling-year figure.

Source: TheGuardian