Press Release

• Gatwick expects to handle around 6 million passengers this Summer
• Britons head for popular hotspots in Spain, Portugal and Turkey
• Gatwick offers handy tips to remove some of the pre-holiday stress

Around 3.3 million holidaymakers are expected to take to the skies from Gatwick Airport this summer to enjoy quality time in the sun with friends and family. Malaga remains the most popular holiday destination with around 130,000 Brits heading off from Gatwick to the capital of the Costa del Sol.  Palma de Mallorca and Faro also make up the top three popular destinations.

The top 10 summer holiday destinations for passengers flying from Gatwick this year are:

1.  Malaga
2.  Palma De Mallorca
3.  Faro
4.  Dalaman
5.  Dublin
6.  Alicante
7.  Madrid
8.  Orlando
9.  Ibiza
10. Jersey

Going on holiday with the family can be great fun, but the dilemma of what to pack and how much to take can be stressful. To avoid paying additional fees at the check-in counter for excess luggage, or giving up favourite cosmetics at security, Gatwick offers some useful tips to make packing as stress-free as possible:

• How big? When travelling, most airlines allow you to check in one bag and take one piece of hand luggage onboard with you. Ideally, the bag that you’re checking-in should be a maximum of 90cm length x 75cm height x 45cm width and hand luggage should not exceed 56cm x 45cm x 25cm. Most airlines will let you carry a handbag and coat in addition to your hand luggage, but some airlines count any shopping bags as extra bags. Travellers at Gatwick can take advantage of its ‘Shop and Drop’ service where airport purchases can be left at Gatwick on departure and picked up on return. Always double check with your airline as rules can vary.
• How much? 20kg per person is the general rule for luggage you’re checking in, although while some airlines allow more, others may restrict this to 15kg – think of this as the equivalent of 15-20 pairs of shoes. Most airlines will let you take extra luggage, including sporting equipment, for an additional fee.  If you are travelling in a group of two or more, many airlines will also allow you to spread the weight of your luggage across the bags - so two passengers with one bag each can have one bag at 18kg and the other at 22kg. Hand luggage weight restrictions vary from 5 – 10kg, dependent on the airline you are travelling with.
• What to pack? Sadly, over three million items are voluntarily surrendered in the security areas each year at Gatwick because they do not comply with the rules.  We want to help you avoid having to give up those items. So, please remember that your hand luggage must not contain any sharp items - be mindful of vanity items (e.g. nail scissors), jewellery or sporting equipment that might fall into this category - and you can only carry small amounts of liquid, gels, creams and pastes. Each container cannot exceed 100ml and all these items must fit inside one transparent re-sealable bag (maximum size 20cm x 20cm) which will be screened at security. 

  You can take solid cosmetics such as lipsticks and powders onboard and it is absolutely fine to pack liquid, gels, creams and pastes that are over 100ml into your check-in luggage. 

  If you are travelling with a baby, or you have a medical condition and need to carry medicines, there are exceptions to these rules and it’s advisable to check with your airline before arriving.

  Electrical items such as MP3 and DVD players and laptops are also permitted onboard as long as they comply with size restrictions. However, these devices do need to be removed from hand luggage and screened separately at security.

• Secure your bag: Fasten or remove all detachable straps, position padlocks next to the handle and tuck in all loose draw strings or toggles – this helps to ensure your bag does not get damaged in transit and will help to create a smoother process for luggage operations. 

As part of the near £1 billion investment programme aimed to significantly improve the airport experience for all travellers, Gatwick will soon be the first airport to open a dedicated preparation area ahead of security designed to speed the process and reduce waiting times. This area will include free re-sealable plastic bags for liquids, benches where travellers can easily sort through hand luggage, as well as information in five different languages clearly explaining the items that cannot be taken on the plane.

Media enquiries to
GATWICK AIRPORT PRESS OFFICE
+ 44 (0) 1293 505000
gatwickmedia@gatwickairport.com