FEATURE Gatwick Airport Overview

This edition of our airport overview feature will be looking at Gatwick Airport in London.

Modern Day Gatwick Airport

History

Gatwick Airport in the form that it currently exists was opened in 1958. Prior to 1958 Gatwick Airport was used for many purposes such as a flying club and flying school with the Surrey Aero Club operating there when it was formed in 1930.

In 1933 Gatwick Airport was purchased by Morris Jackman and Airports Limited was formed and the following year it was licensed by the Air Ministry for commercial air transportation. The first scheduled service from Gatwick Airport took to the skies on the 17th May 1936 to Paris and thereafter the flights increased in frequency. Upon breakout of war in 1939 the RAF took control of Gatwick Airport for military purposes and continued to operate there for some time after the end of hostilities, however still permitted a small number of civilian flights.

Gatwick Airport officially opened in 1958 after 2 years of construction after Winston Churchill's government had given the go ahead for the development of the site in 1952 due to the congestion and difficulties being experienced at Heathrow. The new Gatwick Airport was completed in an outstanding 33 months and was opened in 1958 by Queen Elizabeth II.

In 1959 a year after completion Gatwick Airport flew 368,000 passengers. In 1962 expansion of the airport was required and as a result the terminal size was doubled and the runway extended in length. Until 1983 several modifications were made to Gatwick Airport to deal with the growing numbers of passengers when the decision was made for a new terminal to be added. Terminal 2 was opened in 1988 by Queen Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh at a cost of £200m followed by a second pier in 1991.

Airport Facilities

Information desks are located in both terminals and staff are multi-lingual. Facilities are plentiful in both terminals with many eating and shopping establishments are available. Play areas for children are available as well with many of the lounges and executive lounges being designed for families.

Cash points and a Bureau de change are available as well as an auto exchange machine. Both terminals have their own games arcade and amusements as well as their being holistic healthcare available at the south terminal and a new Sushi bar open in the north terminal.

There are also first aid facilities available in both terminals

North Terminal Shopping

The North Terminal contains the Avenue Shopping Mall which has a wide variety of shopping outlets available. There are also a large range of shopping outlets available in the air-side lounge that are mostly tax free, and you will also find a newsagent and arrivals shop in the arrivals area.

South Terminal Shopping

The south terminal is often referred to as one of the best shopping centres in any UK airport with a huge variety of shops available in the landslide area. This is mirrored air-side with almost the same variety of shops available and as with the north terminal predominantly tax free. You will find a smaller selection of shops available in the arrivals area however it is more comprehensive than most UK airport arrival areas.

Disabled Facilities

Gatwick airport meets the EU standard for disabled assistance and has many facilities in place to accommodate disabled passengers.

It is possible to obtain assistance with baggage by telephoning the information desk prior to arrival at the airport 0870 000 2468.

There are several lifts around the airport that can be used for wheelchair access and wheelchairs are available upon request when arriving. Disabled toilets are also plentiful in both terminals.

There are many other facilities available for the disabled traveller and we suggest telephoning the relevant airline or the airport itself if you have any queries about what you may require during your time at Gatwick. The following link to Gatwick airport may be of use Gatwick Airport

Published by: Jon Vickery