Airport News
Gatwick Airport says new designs of expansion plans released by architect Sir Terry Farrell, show it would be the world’s most efficient two-runway airport – flexible and responsive to meet the changing needs of passengers and airlines.
The airport will operate to reflect changing trends in passenger travel and the plans demonstrate how queues will be eliminated, passenger transit through the airport will be sped up, and aircraft turn-around will match the quickest in the world.
Gatwick says new advertisements to be published this week highlight its plan is comparatively simple and low risk and can be delivered in just 10 years, by 2025.
The world’s busiest single runway gateway explains that improvements and services will include: self-service bag drops and electronic security gates; passengers reaching boarding gates in 30 minutes; and Gatwick will match the world’s quickest aircraft turnaround times.
Others are exceptionally short taxiing times reducing operating costs and engine emissions; pushing back take-off to seven minutes; while passengers will connect with flights leaving from different terminals in 45 minutes; and connection times from the same terminal will be 30 minutes.
These planned improvements have been designed to meet the future needs of passengers it says.
Gatwick Airport CEO, Stewart Wingate, says: “An expanded Gatwick can be delivered quickly and at no additional cost to the taxpayer so the UK can reap the economic benefits of expansion sooner.
“The way we travel is changing fast and we have to change with it – only Gatwick can cater for all passengers, travelling to any destination, with any airline type, now and into the future.
“Our plan recognises that traditional methods of transferring are in decline with many passengers exploiting new options to ‘self-connect’ between a mix of low cost short and medium haul, charter and long haul flights depending on their budget and needs.
“Gatwick Connect – our ground-breaking service – is an example of us already responding to changing passenger behaviour and the needs of passengers will remain central to our plan to expand.”
Sir Terry Farrell says his firm Farrell’s, has designed what Skytrax has twice voted the best airport in world, and has been involved in many more, but raised the bar yet higher with an “elegant masterplan” to make Gatwick the world’s most efficient two runway airport.
"Queues have literally been designed out and the new terminal will be simple and convenient to use with few changes of level. The airfield itself would also offer the shortest taxiing distances possible with the new apron sitting between, and in close-proximity to, both the existing and new runways,” Sir Terry explains.
