New £24m arrivals route opens at Gatwick

The new facility, located in the South Terminal, offers passengers a faster and easier exit from their aircraft. 

Now, passengers from the UK and Republic of Ireland can exit their aircraft via a jetty, or aircraft steps which lead directly into the building.

Plus, a new baggage reclaim belt has been fitted to make it quicker and more convenient for domestic passengers to collect their luggage. This will also relieve busy baggage reclaim areas for international passengers, by reducing the number of people waiting at the same belt. 

The project is part of London Gatwick's £1.11 billion Capital Investment Programme and VINCI Airports' commitment to improving airport infrastructure through technological innovations, to provide better experiences for passengers.

Prior to the launch of the new arrivals route, passengers from the UK and Ireland were coached from aircraft to a dedicated baggage reclaim area to keep them separate from international passengers. 

Following the unveiling of the new route, 95% of domestic passengers will be able to travel through this route with just a small number of flights using coaches during busy times. 

Further investment in e-gates and biometric technology has revolutionised airport departure processes by offering an efficient self-service option to passengers. Domestic passengers can be differentiated from international passengers by iris recognition and reconciliation during the departure process. 

Gatwick’s Head of Terminal Operations, Andy Pule, said: “We are always looking for ways to improve the experience of passengers who travel through Gatwick, and this is a great example of how we invest in existing infrastructure to facilitate growth while also improving service for all. UK and Republic of Ireland passengers are frequent visitors to Gatwick and use the airport as a transit point into London, or to connect with the rest of the world.”

The new route will speed up and enhance the arrivals process at Gatwick for passengers arriving from Guernsey, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Jersey, Dublin, Cork and Shannon.