Gatwick opens new £80 million Pier 5

The larger and more modern pier, which was opened yesterday by Gatwick CEO Stewart Wingate and Caroline Ansell MP, allows Gatwick to handle an additional 30 flights per day compared to the old Pier 5 facility. The main objective of the project was the redesign and modernisation of the stands so that Gatwick has the flexibility to handle new and changing types of aircraft, leading to more growth at the airport. Pier 5 now has the ability to accommodate seven large aircraft and twelve smaller aircraft, or a combination of both. The pier also features two levels, allowing the airport to offer vertically separated arrival and departure routes, and, therefore, a smoother journey for passengers. Pier 5 celebrates Gatwick’s heritage as a London hub with a London-themed design in all its gate rooms. Amenities within the gate rooms include interactive spaces for families, a business zone with charging points and internet access. Gatwick Airport CEO Stewart Wingate said, “Since coming into private ownership six years ago, we have invested more than £1 billion in transforming and growing Gatwick and, to accommodate our growth, we are set to invest another billion. “Total passenger numbers have grown by nine million over this time – today, 40 million people choose Gatwick each year and we have achieved 34 successive months of growth. To keep pace with this unprecedented growth, we need to be smart about how we work with our existing infrastructure while we wait for a Government decision on airport expansion. “Our investment programme is all about driving that growth, and Pier 5 will be a significant contributor, allowing us to handle greater volumes of aircraft and passengers.”

Gatwick CEO Stewart Wingate and Caroline Ansell MP opening Pier 5