London Gatwick Airport has continued its growth and transformation with the opening of the £80 million (€105m) Pier 5. Gatwick CEO Stewart Wingate was joined by Caroline Ansell MP on 1 February to officially open the newly-redeveloped pier, which is now fully operational and forms a key part of the North Terminal transformation plan.
Stewart Wingate, CEO Gatwick Airport, and Caroline Ansell MP, officially opened the airport’s £80 million (€105m) Pier 5 – a key part of the North Terminal transformation plan.
The design of the pier has allowed Gatwick to build a second level and the airport is now able to offer vertically separated arrival and departure routes for passengers. This creates a more flexible and efficient operation for both passengers and airlines.
Meanwhile, Pier 5 has a new look called ‘London Square’, incorporating London-themed design into all its gate rooms.
“Since coming into private ownership six years ago, we have invested more than £1 billion (€1.3bn) in transforming and growing Gatwick and, to accommodate our growth, we are set to invest another £1 billion,” Wingate says. “Total passenger numbers have grown by nine million over this time – today, 40 million people choose Gatwick each year and we have achieved 34 successive months of growth. To keep pace with this unprecedented growth, we need to be smart about how we work with our existing infrastructure while we wait for a government decision on airport expansion. Our investment programme is all about driving that growth, and Pier 5 will be a significant contributor, allowing us to handle greater volumes of aircraft and passengers.”
Caroline Ansell MP adds: “It is a privilege to open Pier 5 and have the chance to see this substantial investment that will improve the passenger experience and help Gatwick become one of the world’s best airports. The airport is vital for the economy of south east England and I have made it very clear on a number of occasions I want to see its continued success.”
One of the key objectives was the redesign and modernisation of the stands, allowing Gatwick the flexibility to handle new and changing types of aircraft. Pier 5 has the ability to accommodate seven large aircraft and 12 smaller aircraft, or a combination of both. This increased efficiency will continue to support Gatwick’s growth, further driving efficiency and on-time performance.
Pier 5 will have a significant impact on the number of passengers Gatwick can handle. From this pier alone, it is estimated that Gatwick can handle an additional 30 flights per day, which equates to approximately 4,200 passengers per day, compared to the old Pier 5 facility.
€1.3bn North Terminal transformation coming to life
The North Terminal transformation is truly coming to life. The wider £1 billion (€1.3 billion) investment in the terminal includes £36 million (€47m) being spent to create a new departure level, which it is said will house the world’s largest self-service bag drop zone. Phase One opened last October, with the second phase opening in April 2016.
£36 million (€47m) is being spent to create a new departure level, which it is said will house the world’s largest self-service bag drop zone. Phase One opened last October, with the second phase opening in April 2016.
Other aspects of the North Terminal development programme include:
- £30 million (€40m) to create a new security area opening in North Terminal in Summer 2016, reducing passenger transit times and allowing Gatwick to process 5,000 passengers per hour.
- £21 million (€28m) invested to create a new departure lounge, including more space for retail and food & beverage.
- £10 million (€13m) is being invested to fully refurbish the North Terminal’s arrival area, to open in time for the peak of Summer 2016.
- £10 million (€13m) to upgrade the North Terminal border zone – more space, new technologies and 15 state-of-the-art new e-gates will help lead to shorter queues for passengers.
- £250 million (€330m) to maintain and replace facilities including lifts, escalators and the technology infrastructure.
- £185 million (€245m) to construct a state-of-the-art new Pier 1, offering new aircraft stands, gate rooms, new lounge facilities, and storage for 2,600 bags.
The North Terminal development programme includes a £185 million (€245m) investment to construct a state-of-the-art new Pier 1, offering new aircraft stands, gate rooms, new lounge facilities, and storage for 2,600 bags.
