Gatwick Airport to Benefit from Billion Pound Investment

Improvements to the baggage systems make up part of the £1 billion investment programme at Gatwick Airport

Global Infrastructure Partners, the American owners of Gatwick Airport have announced an investment and development programme worth £1 billion over the next two years.

Part of the improvements include a new state of the art inter-terminal shuttle that will come into operation in July, a full two months ahead of schedule. July will also see an extension to the airport's North Terminal put into use.

Over the next two years the departure lounge, baggage systems, immigration hall and entrance forecourts will all see major improvements made to them. Global Infrastructure Partners has said the investment will focus on the airport's world-class facilities and quality of service, making it a unique draw to airlines and passengers alike.

Gatwick is the busiest single runway airport in the world and the second largest airport in the UK.  It serves more than 200 destinations across 90 countries in the world - more than any other airport in the UK. It is estimated that approximately 33 million passengers use the airport every year.

Speaking about the improvement programme, Alistair Smith, interim executive director of the Gatwick Diamond Initiative, a local business group which aims to take the economic performance of the business area around Gatwick from good to excellent, said "The £1 billion capital investment will bring the facilities up to date. The business community in particular looks forward to seeing more long-haul flights with planes like the Airbus 380 flying to major international hubs such as New York, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mumbai."

Posted by Lauren, 29 June 2010 16:46

News tags

• Hong Kong
• London
• Mumbai
• New York
• Singapore