Gatwick travel, news, advice and information about the Gatwick area
To enable improvements to Ryanair’s website, ryanair.com will be unavailable from 22:00 on Friday 18 May 2012 until midnight on Saturday 19 May 2012.
Ryanair is informing anyone flying with them this weekend that they will need to check-in online before 16:00 on Friday 18 May.
An early Easter and the lack of an additional bank holiday in April have been blamed for a small reduction in passenger numbers at Gatwick Airport last month.
Gatwick handled 2,725,500 passengers in April – a 1.3% fall in numbers when compared to April 2011.
The numbers must be a disappointment to Gatwick as, up until April, the airport had seen 15 consecutive months of passenger growth, although, on a rolling 12-month period (May 2011 – April 2012) passenger numbers have risen by 4.4% when compared to the previous 12-month period.
Nick Dunn, Gatwick Airport’s Chief Financial Officer said: “The year-on-year decrease in passenger traffic is largely accounted for by the timing of public holidays in April 2011, including the late Easter holiday weekend, the additional holiday to mark the royal wedding and the early May bank holiday. Despite this, planes were flying fuller with load factors up 1.2 percentage points.
“This month we were given a vote of confidence by Korean Air and Air China as they launched operations to Seoul and Beijing respectively. With room to accommodate more flights, we are in a strong position to help London remain one of the best connected cities in the world.”
British Airways is increasing flights to two of its popular European ski destinations from Gatwick next winter.
From December 18 flights to Turin in Italy will increase to 10 a week and flights to Salzburg in Austria will increase to five a week.
The extra return service to Turin will operate on a Sunday and extra return services to Salzburg will operate on Thursday and Saturday.
Low one-way winter fares are available from £45 to Turin and £65 to Salzburg.
Fares include on-line check in and seat selection up to 24 hours before departure, 23 kg checked-in luggage allowance plus a piece of hand luggage and a laptop or handbag, and no debit card fees.
Sophie McKinstrie, British Airways Gatwick, said: “These routes are already very popular with winter travellers, and skiers in particular, so we have taken the opportunity to boost our winter schedule with the extra flights.”
Air China’s direct service between Gatwick and Beijing took off last week.
The new Gatwick flights will operate four times per week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays using an Airbus A330-200.
Guy Stephenson, Gatwick Airport’s Chief Commercial Officer says: “We are delighted to welcome Air China and its first passengers to Gatwick today as we seek to enhance our role in becoming the gateway to Asia.
“Broadening trade links with fast-growing developing markets is a priority for the UK, but in order to achieve this, London needs to retain its status as one of the best connected cities in the world.
“Gatwick not only has the capacity to grow to serve 40 million passengers by 2020 but also has the ability to serve London just as effectively as Heathrow – and do so for less than half the cost. This in turn is helping strengthen Britain’s connectivity into the rapidly growing economies of the world, such as China. Air China’s decision to expand this route from Gatwick sends a strong message that Gatwick is competing.”
Mr Wu Xiao Ming, General Manager UK & Ireland for Air China said: “This is a true milestone for Air China and an ideal opportunity for the company to respond to the ever increasing demand to China and beyond”
Flybe yesterday published its new winter 2012-13 flight programme, which features 100 routes and a choice of up to 2,760 flights per week.
Amongst the extensive choice of routes are the return of popular ski and sun routes and nine regional routes serving London Gatwick.
The airline, which is the number one domestic airline operating at Gatwick, carries more domestic passengers at Gatwick than any other airline.
Andrew Strong, Flybe UK’s Managing Director, comments: “Our extensive 2012-13 Winter programme brings together all the elements of our ‘Making flying better’ philosophy, demonstrating our commitment to better serving our passengers in a fair and transparent way. The return of popular winter sun and ski destinations as well as key business travel routes offer a wide choice of both leisure and business destinations.”
Flybe’s winter schedule operates from 28 October 2012 through to 30 March 2013
Gatwick Airport’s efforts to keep passengers informed with up-to-the minute details during disruptive weather, flight delays and everyday airport activity, has been recognised by Twitter.
Gatwick is the first UK airport to be listed as a trusted news source with Twitter’s ‘blue tick’ of authority – a social media honour Twitter entitles to profiles to authenticate that a legitimate source is authoring Tweets.
Twitter has also included Gatwick in its Enhanced Profile Page roll out – a new profile design which helps brands better convey important messages to followers. Gatwick will be able to use this functionality to highlight key content in times of disruption by promoting a Tweet to the top of the airport’s timeline on the profile page, ensuring latest information and advice is easily accessible. This will enable Gatwick to alert passengers to key Tweet content at all times, such as flight scheduling and breaking travel news.
Lindsay Baldwin, Head of Airport Communications said: “We recognise the importance of providing accurate and timely communication – not only during times of disruption but also in responding to broader enquiries or passenger feedback. Twitter provides us with an immediate and effective communications platform to do just this and we thank them for their support of our efforts.”
Following the airport’s change of ownership in December 2009, every effort has been made to introduce a more human and personal experience for passengers as they travel through the airport. As a result, Gatwick is using online social tools as a way of talking and responding to customers as they pass through the airport .
The airport runs sophisticated 24/7 Twitter customer service support, which includes the #askgatwick campaign. This means that no matter what time of the day or night, if a passenger requires help then Gatwick can respond and, where appropriate, address it immediately.
Gatwick was the first airport to use mobile barcodes as public information points and the first European airport to have an Instagram feed. The airport’s Twitter verification is another example of how Gatwick is leading in social media firsts to deliver the best possible airport experience.
In an announcement that will see easyJet go head to head with Flybe, the airline has announced it is to launch flights between Gatwick and the Isle of Man.
The new Gatwick flights will commence on 1 October 2012 and operate six times per week.
Ali Gayward, easyJet UK commercial manager, said: “I am so pleased to be able to announce the launch of new route to London Gatwick from the Isle of Man. The new route is the ideal gateway for business and leisure travellers looking for easy and affordable travel to the Capital for a summer jam-packed with momentous activities.
“We hope that the new six-times-weekly route demonstrates our commitment to our passengers on the Isle of Man to provide flexibility and choice across the airport’s routes.”
Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), the owner of Gatwick and London City Airports, has acquired Edinburgh Airport in a £807.2m deal.
The sale price is payable in full at closing – expected to close by the end of May.
Colin Matthews, Chief Executive of BAA, said: “Edinburgh Airport and its team have been part of BAA for a long time and we are proud of its achievements. We wish the new owners every success and are confident the airport will continue to flourish.
“BAA will continue to focus on improving passengers’ journeys at Heathrow and its other airports.”
The next meeting of GATCOM will be held this Thursday, 26 April 2012, at 2pm at the Arora Hotel, Southgate Avenue, Crawley.
GATCOM meetings are open to the public and the press.
According to recent figures, Gatwick Airport passenger numbers are still increasing with the airport achieving its 15th consecutive month of passenger growth in March.
Gatwick saw 2,513,900 passengers pass through the airport in March – a 3.9% increase when compared with March 2011.
Contributing to the growth was the early Easter holiday and a 5.1% increase in load factor, now at 80.3%.
In a rolling 12-month period to end March 2012, Gatwick passenger numbers are up 6.9% on the previous 12 months.
Stewart Wingate, Chief Executive of Gatwick Airport said: “This has been a successful year for Gatwick, having achieved passenger growth every single month despite the economic headwinds being faced in our industry. We have been competing vigorously with other London airports including Heathrow, Stansted and Luton and we have been winning new routes to the UK’s key trading partners, providing direct connections between London and high growth economies.
“In this last year, Gatwick has attracted new routes to South Korea, Turkey, Vietnam, Hong Kong, China and the Caribbean. We continue to provide connections to closer destinations with new routes to Germany and Iceland, and we have seen growth from some of our established carriers including easyJet and Norwegian Air Shuttle. Gatwick’s improving connections should help to maintain London’s role as a major hub.”
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