Press Release

Steaming ahead for a busy summer getaway at Gatwick

 

25 July 2006

In spite of soaring temperatures in the UK, Gatwick is gearing itself up for a busy start to the school summer holidays with an estimated 521,000 passengers arriving and departing from Gatwick Airport over the the forthcoming weekend, ( Friday 28 through to Monday 31 July). Popular getaway destinations include: Malaga, Palma De Mallorca, Faro, Alicante, Dalaman and Orlando, Edinburgh, Corfu, Tenerife and Mahon. The busiest day is forecast to be Sunday 30 July where around 134,000 passengers will pass through the airport.

BAA Gatwick has, for the third year, welcomed back the ‘Welcome Hosts’, a team of young people recruited from local schools and colleges, sporting bright yellow tee-shirts, who will act as mobile information desks in both the North and South Terminals. They will also be on hand on the forecourts, helping passengers with any queries or directions to find their check-in area, onward travel connections and other directions to the airport’s facilities.

To help entertain children at the airport whilst they wait for their flights, BAA Gatwick has developed its own special story telling area known as the “Beanstalk”. Located in South Terminal’s departure lounge, the Beanstalk is a special area dedicated to families with young children where they can enjoy regular story telling and puppet shows. The area is open every day from 7 am until 2 pm throughout the school summer holidays. Both Terminals also have unsupervised soft play areas in the departure lounges and there is also a soft play area in the South Terminal before security on the Gatwick Village shopping level, suitable for children aged two to six.

As part of the measures to reduce queuing, particularly at the entrance to security and the departure lounges, passengers are being asked to adhere to the internationally agreed limits on the size of hand baggage. Hand baggage should measure no more than 56cm in length, 45cm in width and 25cm in depth. Any bags exceeding these dimensions will not be accepted at security and passengers carrying them will be directed back to airline desks to check them in as hold baggage.

Speaking about the busy start to the summer season Sean Cooper, BAA Gatwick’s Customer Service Director said: “ We are looking forward to the summer season. Our terminal management teams will be working closely with all our airlines, handling agents and other business partners to make sure travellers through Gatwick have a safe and enjoyable start to their summer break”.

Notes to Editors:

Some airlines passengers can now check-in on the day before flying, a particular benefit to local people and travellers who stay overnight who will be able to check in their bags early, get their seats assigned and relax without worrying about joining the early morning queues. For details as to which airlines offer this service, please go to: www.gatwickairport.com/daybefore

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