Airlines to operate out of single terminals at Gatwick
Gatwick’s two largest carriers, easyJet and British Airways are the first to announce moves, with easyJet consolidating its operations out of the North Terminal, instead of being spread across both South and North, and British Airways moving its operation to the South Terminal. Both moves will take place around November 2016.
The decision will provide a good mix of airlines across two world-class terminals and will allow each airline to grow its operations, and benefit from the £2.2 billion investment programme that Gatwick is now half way through.
For easyJet passengers, the consolidation and Gatwick’s investment programme means that passengers will benefit from a completely transformed North Terminal. The Terminal will be extended with increased floor space and improvements including:
- £36m investment on a brand-new check-in area
- The biggest self-service bag drop in the world
- A new layout boosting peak check-in capacity from 3,000 to 4,350 per hour
- £30m investment for world-leading security area able to process 5000 passengers per hour
- New departure lounge with more space for future growth
- 30,000 sq ft of new retail space (10 tennis courts)
- Refurbished arrivals area with a more spacious concourse and better choice of retail
BA passengers will benefit from:
- World class security in South Terminal including automated security gates and dedicated lanes for families and those with reduced mobility, helping 96% of passengers to be processed through security within five minutes.
- State-of-the-art self-service immigration gates in South Terminal leading to shorter queues.
- New Pier 1, which includes an investment of £185m to construct a state-of-the-art facility, offering new aircraft stands, gate rooms, lounge facilities, and storage for 2,600 bags
- Europe's largest walk-through World Duty Free and newly refurbished departure lounge
The BA check-in zone in the South Terminal will also be upgraded and a brand new Premium lounge will be built. The South Terminal is also on the same level as the train station – which is to receive a £120 million upgrade - ensuring BA passengers benefit from a quick and easy train to plane transfer.
Stewart Wingate, Gatwick’s CEO, said: “This move is a major milestone on our journey to become one of the world’s most efficient airports. We look forward to having all our airlines operating out of single terminals so both our passengers and airlines can benefit from a more streamlined operation and state-of-the-art facilities.
“Our growth plans are transforming Gatwick, and in addition to the investment we are currently making, we will build the worlds’ most efficient two runway airport if we win the right to expand.”
Carolyn McCall, easyJet’s CEO, said: "As our largest base Gatwick is of huge importance to easyJet both strategically and for the millions of our passengers who travel through the airport every year. Moving to one terminal creates the opportunity for easyJet and Gatwick to plan and deliver an improved experience for our passengers always delivering on our ambition to make travel easy and affordable for all of our customers. Our shared ambition is for Gatwick to be both our biggest and best airport.
“Alongside the consolidation to one terminal we also plan to continue to grow at Gatwick through increasing our destinations, further improving our schedule and by deploying larger aircraft.”
Lynne Embleton, Director of Strategy and Gatwick, British Airway’s said: “This is an exciting opportunity for British Airways and our customers. The South Terminal has recently received significant investment to its security area and departure lounge, and we will be working with Gatwick to provide our customers with a new check-in area and lounge. The South Terminal also has direct access to trains that run to and from central London.”