UK. London Gatwick Airport has launched its new £186 million Pier 1 facility. It has also reported a +5.8% growth in passenger numbers in May.
The Pier 1 facility houses a new baggage system for the South Terminal and passenger gate rooms with views across the runway. A new lounge for premium passengers sits on top of the new Pier and also features panoramic airfield views.
Much of the focus of the new facility is on reducing inconvenience and delays. The airport’s first ‘early bag store’ allows 2,600 bags to be checked in up to 18 hours before departure. Four new taxiways have been constructed, cutting airfield delays, while new dual boarding facilities should reduce queues at the passenger gates.
The new facility replaces the old Pier 1, which was originally opened by the Queen in 1958. It is the airport’s biggest single investment since new ownership.
Gatwick CEO Stewart Wingate said: “Our new Pier 1 supports Gatwick’s mission to become London’s airport of choice and helps the airport on its journey to become one of the most efficient in the world. These new facilities make it easy for airlines to choose Gatwick as an operating base and means our passengers will enjoy even better customer service.”
The +5.8% growth in passenger traffic meant it was the airport’s busiest ever May. More than a quarter of a million passengers flew to destinations in North America during the month.
A total of 41,123,000 passengers passed through the airport in the first five months of the year, which Gatwick said was a new world record for a single runway airport.