Gatwick Blog

More than a million people are expected to pass through Gatwick Airport over the Christmas and New Year period – 16 December and 2 January.

The busiest day will be Friday 23 December when 60,000 passengers are expected to depart from the airport.

Popular destinations this Christmas include Geneva, Dublin, Madrid, Orlando and Dubai.

To get passengers into the festive spirit, Gatwick has installed a snow slide in the North Terminal. There are also Christmas market stalls, a samba band and performances by local choirs and musical groups.

This year has seen the launch of Gatwick’s 38th Christmas Charity Appeal with all money raised going to Gatwick Airport’s charity partner, Travel Care and St Catherine’s Hospice. Last year’s charity appeal raised more than £2,000 and the airport is hoping to exceed the amount this year.

Tina Oakley, Gatwick Airport’s HR Director said, “Supporting our local community and making the airport experience an enjoyable one is important to us at Gatwick, especially during the festive period, which is why we are celebrating this year’s Christmas Charity Appeal in a big way.

“Throughout this month, we have planned a whole range of festive activities to entertain more than one-and-a-half million passengers expected to travel through the airport. Passengers can take a thrilling ride down our snow slide, buy treats from the Christmas markets and listen to performances from over 20 local choirs and music groups. There really is something for everyone this Christmas at Gatwick.”

Last week saw the official opening of Gatwick Airport’s £73 million North Terminal extension by former Conservative Prime Minister Sir John Major.

The new extension will enable and extra four million passengers to pass through the terminal each year and means the airport is on target to handle 40 million passengers a year by 2020, without an extra runway!

With an extra 18 check-in desks – the terminal now boasts 144 (70 of which are self-service) – and four new baggage-reclaim belts, the airport should achieve a significant reduction in time spent waiting for luggage.

Stewart Wingate, Gatwick Airport Chief Executive said: “It’s fair to say that passengers flying out of the North Terminal used to be greeted with a dated 80s feel with little aesthetic appeal and confusing wayfinding. But that was the Gatwick of yesteryear. Today, the layout and design of the upgraded forecourt, interchange facilities and the expanded terminal building provide a much more positive first impression.

“This is all part of our £1.2 billion investment programme, which has a focus on improving the overall passenger experience of our airport, from the moment they arrive at the front door, check-in, pass through security to when they board their flight. We want passengers to spend as little time in queues or waiting for luggage as is possible, and we want them to enjoy their surroundings before they jet off for their holidays. That has been the focus of our work at the airport so far and there is still much more to come.”