Press Release

Hand baggage restrictions remain at BAA Gatwick Airport

 

04 January 2008

Following the announcement by the Department for Transport to relax hand baggage restrictions at some UK airports, BAA Gatwick reminds passengers that the current one-bag rule per person continues.

An ongoing construction project is underway to upgrade existing, as well as expand, security facilities at the airport, which will mean this rule will be relaxed in the near future. The complexity of the project has involved reconfiguring significant parts of the terminal buildings to provide extra security lanes and improve the environmental conditions for passengers and staff.

In July 2007 an extra six new security lanes were created and further developments this year will see an additional seven new lanes open by Easter this year.

This will bring the total number of security lanes at Gatwick to 35, 21 in the South Terminal and 14 in the North Terminal. In addition, over 450 new airport security officers have been appointed since January 2007, as part of an ongoing recruitment campaign, with the aim of helping passengers with their journey through the airport.

In an initial phase to relax the rule, from Monday 7 January, passengers connecting flights through the airport’s South Terminal will be able to travel with more than one piece of hand baggage if their airline allows. This will also apply for passengers on connecting flights via the North Terminal from Monday 11 February.

Commenting on the hand baggage changes Andy Flower, Managing Director, BAA Gatwick said: “At Gatwick we need to continue with our current investment programme to increase the number of security lanes before we can relax this rule.”

He added: “It’s important that we can maintain current service standards for passengers while the changes take place. Over the Christmas period the average waiting time through security was less than 10 minutes for over 95 % of the time and it’s vital that we maintain this, that is why we are staggering the relaxation of the hand baggage rules and at the same time make improvements to security areas.”

The Department for Transport has announced a deadline for all UK airports to be ready to relax one bag restrictions to meet regulations by 31 May 2008

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