Gatwick Blog

Due to increasing demand, British Airways is set to add an additional flight to its Gatwick to St Kitts and Nevis service next year.

From March 2010, BA will operate the St Kitts and Nevis service twice a week on Saturdays and Tuesdays.

Flights will be operated by Boeing 777 aircraft with a three-class configuration: World Traveller, World Traveller Plus and Club World.

It looks like things could be improving for Gatwick Airport after it saw an increase in passenger traffic last month – the first time since May 2008.

Figures just released show that more than 2.8 million passengers passed through Gatwick airport during October 2009, compared with 2.77 million last October – an increase of 1.8%.

“It is fantastic that October saw an increase over last year in the number of people flying to and from the airport, Andy Flower, the airport’s Managing Director said. “We have attracted new growth in the European scheduled market, with Aer Lingus starting a new base here, and Flybe’s UK programme has also seen an increase in passengers.

“New routes introduced by easyJet, Ryanair, British Airways, Aer Lingus and Norwegian this winter all show how popular London Gatwick Airport is with both airlines and their passengers. It also confirms our ability to compete and gives us justified good cause to look forward to further development here.”

This coming Sunday, 15 November 2009, the Gatwick Express services will operate half hourly instead of every 15 minutes.

Your holiday is booked, everything is sorted: passports, tickets, accommodation and even travel insurance, but have you stopped to think about how you are going to get to Gatwick Airport?

If Gatwick is your local airport, chances are you know where it is, and how to get there. But, if you usually fly from a different airport, it is worth spending time planning your journey to decide which method of transport you are going to use and then how you are going to get to Gatwick.

You’ll find Gatwick airport about 30 miles south of the centre of London and roughly 45 miles from Heathrow airport. Gatwick does have excellent road and rail connections and it was the first UK airport to combine air, rail and road transport services.

Driving to Gatwick
Gatwick airport is situated a short way off the M23, junction 9. If you intend to drive, plan your route using one of the many online route planners: Multimap, Google, the AA and even the RAC have journey planners.

It’s worth having a backup route too, or make sure you have a map or satNav, just in case there’s an accident and you need to divert. Always check for advanced warning of road works – the Highways Agency website is great for this.

If you’re going to drive, don’t forget about airport parking – there are plenty of options to choose from including on-site, off-site, meet and greet parking, or even Gatwick hotel parking at one of the many Gatwick hotels in the area.

Book your airport parking in advance as this can save you a significant amount of money and stress.

Taxi
Checker Cars is the official taxi company at Gatwick Airport and operates a quoted fare system where you are quoted a fee at the time of booking and have the option of paying in advance or on the day – either at the desk or direct to your driver.

Checker Cars has their own booking offices in both the North and South Terminals.

If you choose to use your local taxi company for drop-off and pick-up you can, however, the drop-off and pick-up zones will not be located in the same area as the official taxi provider.

On the occasions that I’ve had to use taxis to and from the airport, I have found it more convenient to use Checker Cars to bring me back from the airport, and a local taxi company to take me to the airport – I’ve also found it slightly cheaper to use the local company.

Coach
If you plan to travel to Gatwick by coach there are direct services to Gatwick from Southend, Kent, London and Oxford plus services operating between Gatwick and Heathrow.

Airport by Coach, National Express, the Oxford Bus Company and easyBus are just some of the operators that offer regular coach services to Gatwick from more than 400 towns and cities in the UK.

Many of the companies take online bookings and allow you to print your own tickets, however, National Express also offers the option of having your tickets sent to your mobile, posted or picked up from a collection point.

Luggage restrictions do apply to coach travel so check luggage allowances before booking. For full details of services check with the individual coach companies.

Train
Gatwick Station has a direct link to the South Terminal providing excellent train connections – a free shuttle bus service operates between the South and North Terminals until the monorail has be upgraded – expected May 2010.

Gatwick airport is only a 30 minute journey from London Victoria Station using the non-stop Gatwick Express, or 35 minutes from Victoria on the regular rail service.

Rail Services
Currently there are four rail operators serving Gatwick Airport: First Great Western, Southern, First Capital Connect, and Gatwick Express. With connecting services it is possible to get to Gatwick from almost anywhere in the UK.
For a map detailing the rail network check out the National Rail Enquiries website. Tickets can be bought online at various websites, or from your local station.

Gatwick Express
Gatwick Express trains operate a non-stop service to Gatwick every 15 minutes from London Victoria Station.
From Victoria Station, trains run between 03:30 and 00:30 daily, operating every 15 minutes between the hours of 05:00 and 23:45.

From Gatwick, trains operate between the hours of 04:35 and 01:35 – trains depart every 15 minutes between 05:50 and 00:35.

Journey times take 30 minutes and 35 on Sundays.

Bus
Metrobus offers bus services to Gatwick Airport. For details of the local services check here

Motorbike
Gatwick Airport offers dedicated motorbike parking bays where motorcyclists can park for free. Motorbikes must be parked in the dedicated bays and will be removed if parked in car parking bays.

British Airways has just launched Gatwick flights to Sharm El Sheikh – one of the most popular half-term holiday destinations.

The Gatwick flights will operate three times per week on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Taylor Woodrow has won a £31.3m contract to redevelop Pier Two at Gatwick Airport’s South Terminal.

The redevelopment will see the number of stands on the South side of the pier increase from nine to 13 preparing the airfield for future demolition and the redevelopment of Pier One. Improvements to the gaterooms will also be made.

US Airways has announced it is to axe its daily Philadelphia to Gatwick flights next year.

The announcement is part of the airline’s cost cutting which will see 1,000 jobs go and the suspension of five European trans-Atlantic services.

Did you know that if you are flying with British Airways you can now check in your bags the day before your flight, irrespective of the time of your flight the next day?

Previously, BA only permitted check-in of luggage between 4pm and 10pm if the passenger’s flight departed before 3:15pm the next day.

Since the start of the winter services, BA has extended this to all customers.

Passengers checking in bags for the following day should drop their bags at the appropriate Fast Bag Drop desk in Zone D.

Early bag check-in is a great service if you plan to book a Gatwick hotel room before you fly.

easyJet has unveiled a host of new services it will introduce this winter including four from Gatwick.

Up first is its Gatwick to Porto flights which start on 2 November 2009. Two days’ later, on 4 November, the Gatwick to Agadir service will take off.

On 2 February 2010 easyJet flights to Dusseldorf and Hamburg will commence.

Will we see a public inquiry held in to the proposed expansion of the North Terminal at Gatwick?

Well, it looks like the plan to expand Gatwick’s North Terminal is on ice after the Government stepped in to prevent Crawley Borough Council from granting planning permission while it decides whether or not to hold a public inquiry in to the expansion.

A decision on the application was due in early November, however, the local council brought forward the debate to last Monday and was expected to approve it.

The proposed extension of the North Terminal could see Gatwick handle 20,000 more flights than 2008 and an extra 5 million passengers – around 40 million a year.