Press Release

Summer gets off to a flying start at Gatwick


25 July 2007

Gatwick is set to benefit from the UK’s wet and grey summer with an estimated 532,000 passengers arriving and departing from the airport over the coming weekend (Friday 27 through to Monday 30 July).

The most popular getaway destinations are Palma De Mallorca, Malaga, Dalaman, Faro, Alicante,  Dublin, Corfu,  Edinburgh, Tenerife and Mahon. The busiest day is forecast  to be Sunday 29 July when 137,000 passengers will pass through the airport.

For the fourth year running BAA Gatwick has welcomed  back the ‘Welcome Hosts’. The Welcome Hosts are a team of young people in bright yellow t-shirts who have been recruited from local schools and colleges to act as mobile information desks  in both the North and South Terminals. They are also on hand on the forecourts helping passengers with any queries or directions to find their check-in area, onward travel connections and other airport facilities.

The Queen of Hearts and Alice in Wonderland will be on hand during the summer to entertain children in a special story reading area. BAA Gatwick has teamed up with Nestlé to provide colouring pictures for children which can be entered into a competition to win £1000 worth of holiday vouchers. A face painter is also in the World Duty Free area offering free face painting for children.

David Stretch, BAA Gatwick’s Customer Service Director said:  “Following the introduction of the new security regulations in November 2006 we have been running an ongoing recruitment campaign for security officers. We are also expanding our central search areas and working closely with our airline and baggage handling partners to ensure significant improvements in the Gatwick Airport experience this summer.”

Passengers are reminded to plan ahead for their journey with three simple steps: one piece of hand baggage can be taken through security; liquids carried in hand baggage should be in a plastic re-sealable bag measuring no more than 20cm by 20cm; and passengers can fly with everything they buy once through security.

Private vehicles picking up passengers from outside the South Terminal building will now be directed to the short stay car park following recent changes to the layout of the forecourt. Passenger drop offs can be made on the lower forecourt but a strict no waiting policy must be observed at all times. BAA Gatwick encourages passengers to use public transport to travel to and from the airport wherever possible.

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