Latest News
We want our Gatwick Airport Car Parking site to be as informative as possible. We are therefore adding various news stories concerning Gatwick, which we hope you will find interesting:
Travellers flying from Gatwick Airport should note that from September 2009 until April the following year, the Gatwick monorail service will be undergoing maintenance work on the tracks.
The monorail service currently operates between the South and North Terminals at Gatwick Airport, but due to work starting in September, a replacement bus service will be in operation. A new track will reopen on April 28, 2010, with a second following in July 2010.
BAA lost £277 million on forced sale of Gatwick Airport February 22 2010
BAA was forced by the UK Government Competitions Commission to sell Gatwick Airport.
Financial statements released by BAA show that they lost £277 million on the sale
No British Airways strike at Easter January 22 2010
Passengers flying from Gatwick Airport will be pleased to learn that there will be no British Airways strike at Easter.
New Gatwick Airport owners criticised January 18 2010
The new owner of Gatwick Airport have come under fire for not keeping the the airport open during the recent bad weather. Gatwick is said to compare badly with Heathrow.More than 438 flights were cancelled.
Well, the honymoon did not last long
Aer Lingus to reduce flights from Gatwick Airport January 11 2010
Reports in the press and from cheap flight and hotel specialists airflights.co.uk indicate that Irish carrier Aer Lingus is slashing the number of flights it operates from its base at Gatwick south terminal, just a year after creating a presence at the airport.
The airline announced this week that it will reduce the number of Airbus A320 aircraft based at London Gatwick from five down to three by the end of the first quarter of 2010. This move will signal a reduction in the number of destinations accessible from Gatwick Airport with Aer Lingus.
Aer Lingus management put the decision down to weak consumer demand and continuing challenges in the UK operating environment, which have impacted aviation sector performance generally.
More flights cancelled at Gatwick Airport January 7 2010
Budget airline easyJet cancelled about 70 flights in and out of Gatwick Airport while British Airways scrapped a number of flights with more delayed due to icy conditions at both Heathrow and Gatwick.
At Gatwick Airport there were 136 cancellations and only two planes an hour arriving.
More weather delays at Gatwick Airport January 7 2010
Passengers waiting for flights from Gatwick Airport have been facing more delays because of the snow, with some due to spend a second night at the airport.
Hundreds of passengers spent Wednesday night sleeping at the airport after more than 400 flights were cancelled.
On Thursday, a total of 136 inbound and outbound flights were scrapped.
Budget airline EasyJet had to cancel more than 100 flights and British Airways was among other carriers that had to abandon some services.
Airport staff spent the day de-icing stands and walkways to make it safe for passengers.
Gatwick Airport has urged passengers to contact their airline for information.
In a statement, it said it remained open but with some disruption to flight arrivals and delays to departures.
"We are working hard to keep the runway clear, although the threat of more snow and ice remains.
"Some airlines are operating very restricted services, however, and we strongly advise passengers to contact their airline before setting out for the airport.
"We regret the disruption caused to our passengers' travel plans, but the safety and security of aircraft and passengers are our number one priority."
Gatwick Airport security praised November 23 2009
Nearly one million passengers have used the latest face scanning technology at Britain's airports, the Home Secretary, Alan Johnson announced today.
He confirmed the figure while visiting the state-of-the-art facial recognition gates at Gatwick Airport's North Terminal. More than 950,000 passengers have used the secure self-service gates which scan biometric details and then check them against a range of watch lists before allowing the passengers to enter the country.
The facial recognition gates offer legitimate passengers the choice between queuing at traditional, staffed passport controls and using the self-service gates. More than 50,000 passengers have used the gates at Gatwick since their introduction in August 2009.
he gates take seconds to scan each passenger's face against the digital photo recorded in their passport. If there is a match, the e-passport gates open, to allow the traveller across the border. The gates are staffed by UK Border Agency officers who examine any passengers rejected by the gate, as well as making manual checks where appropriate.
The technology has already proved popular and successful at Birmingham, Manchester, Stansted, Cardiff and Bristol Airports.
Speaking on his visit, Home Secretary Alan Johnson said:
"Facial recognition technology speeds up the passage of legitimate travellers through immigration control, allowing UK Border Agency officers to focus on high risk travellers and goods. Our investment in the latest technology, which I have seen here today at Gatwick, means we continue to be at the forefront of border security.
"We have also introduced fingerprint visas, checking those wanting to enter the UK against immigration and crime databases, and compulsory ID cards for foreign nationals. In addition, the e-Borders system allows the UK Border Agency to count people in and out of the country and target terrorist suspects, criminals and would-be illegal immigrants before they can reach the UK."
Facial recognition is just one of many technologies at use within Gatwick Airport to secure the border. Other technology includes Cyclamen, which detects radiation in cargo at the border and Braun Conpass, a full body scanner which enables the UK Border Agency to see if a passenger is carrying illegal weapons or drugs on their person.
Since January this year, technology used in customs checks at ports has helped in the seizure of illegal drugs worth over £157 million.
On his visit, the Home Secretary met frontline UK Border Agency staff, as well as detection dogs responsible for stopping smuggled goods such as drugs, cash and endangered species. Since January this year, UK border Agency officers working at UK Ports and Airports have seized in excess of 447 million smuggled cigarettes - representing a potential loss of more than £87 million in tax revenue and illegal drugs worth over £212 million.
Andy Flower, managing director for London Gatwick Airport, said:
"The introduction of the e-Passport system at London Gatwick Airport will provide a more efficient process for passengers entering the country
"The Home Office has enhanced the use of technology which will help speed people through immigration controls, whilst keeping our borders safe and secure."
Nurse caught with cannabis at Gatwick Airport November 20 2009
A nurse from Wolverhampton who is studying for a degree at the city’s university was caught smuggling £50,000 worth of cannabis through Gatwick Airport.
Vivine Smith, 27, tried to bluff Customs officers by claiming the suitcase she had with her was not hers.
But the pregnant mother-of-one eventually pleaded guilty to unlawful importation of more than 17 kilos of the drug in herbal form.
She was given a 12-month jail sentence, suspended for a year, at Croydon Crown Court yesterday.
Debt-ridden Smith, of Pond Lane, Blakenhall, landed in England from Montego Bay on July 12 with her four-year-old daughter. She had three suitcases and was stopped in the Nothing to Declare green channel.
She told Customs officers one of the cases was not hers, despite having a tag with her name and address on it. Mr Alastair Smith, prosecuting, said: “The case was found to contain packages of tightly-wrapped cannabis.”
Gatwick Airport Numbers on the rise November 16 2009
Gatwick Airport have reason to smile after recent passenger numbers indicate the first sign of growth in over a year. According to Redhill and Reigate Life, more than 2.8 million passengers used London Gatwick Airport during October 2009.The figures for the passengers at Gatwick a year ago for the same month came to 2.77 million.Andy Flower, Gatwick's managing director, told the publication: “It is fantastic that October saw an increase over last year in the number of people flying to and from the airport.We have attracted new growth in the European scheduled market, with Aer Lingus starting a new base here, and Flybe's UK programme has also seen an increase in passengers.
“New routes introduced by easyJet, Ryanair, British Airways, Aer Lingus and Norwegian this winter all show how popular London Gatwick Airport is with both airlines and their passengers.”
Flower added that the news confirms that the London airport can compete with other airports and that they can look forward to more growth in time to come.
Here at Gatwick Airport car parking, we hope the improvement continues
Carjack incident at Gatwick Airport November 5 2009
Limousine hiring services/companies, taxi driver and chauffeur hiring companies must be warned from an incident that happened within London Gatwick Airport last month. A GMB Member has been assaulted and injured as two men, in their twenties, carjacked his Mercedes chauffeur vehicle last month. One of the men struck a blow to the rear of the vehicle. The chauffeur driver, who was about to leave to pick up a passenger from the airport, got out to investigate.
As he was dealing with the men at the rear of the vehicle, a second man jumped into the driver’s seat and started to drive the vehicle away. The chauffeur attempted to stop him and was dragged by the moving vehicle for some distance before he lost his grip. He suffered minor injuries and he was treated in hospital. The victim was working at Gatwick Airport for a chauffeur company, he is currently unable to work due to his injuries. The stolen Mercedes S-Class car was later involved in a police chase. It was subsequently recovered after it had been crashed into a brick wall in West London. There are witnesses to the carjacking.
Terence Flanagan, GMB Professional Driver Branch Secretary said ‘this vicious attack on our member and the carjacking of his vehicle comes days after GMB warned of the increasing violence being meted out by the public to professional drivers. GMB wants to see coordinated action by everybody involved in the industry to minimise and eliminate the avoidable risks to which members are exposed. GMB also wants to see CCTV in passenger vehicles and in the places where the cars wait for passengers. GMB wants to see the specialist insurance companies who deal with professional drivers amending their insurance policies to cover the full gamut of the damages to drivers, their vehicles and their livelihoods that are now commonplace in the industry. GMB will be seeking meetings with the relevant bodies to learn the lessons from this carjacking
BA launces flight from Gatwick Airport to Sharm El Sheikh November 1 2009
British Airways has launched a new direct flight route from Gatwick Airport to popular Red Sea resort Sharm El Sheikh.
Being a top holiday destination known for its pristine beaches and renowned dive sites, Sharm El Sheikh route makes a comeback with British Airways.
British Airways new flight route will be carried out by a Boeing 777 aircraft offering passengers a three-class configuration: World Traveller, World Traveller Plus and Club World.
'The relaunch of British Airways flights to Sharm El Sheikh links the top leisure destinations in both Egypt and the UK, opening the door to a whole new world of holiday travel experiences for our passengers,” Mervat Alfy, country commercial manager for British Airways in Egypt.
“As one of the top tourism sites in Egypt and around the world, Sharm El Sheikh is a key destination not only for British Airways, but for our valued clients and for the tourism industry in Egypt.'
British Ariways flies a daily Cairo-London Heathrow route and the decision to use Gatwick airport as a destination for the new route is mainly for its popularity among leisure travelers, making it the ideal choice for the Sharm El Sheikh flight.
Welcome for Gatwick Airport sale October 22 2009
Advisory body Gatwick Airport Consultative Committee (GATCOM) has welcomed this week's announcement of the sale of the airport.
GATCOM chairman Dr John Godfrey said his committee looked forward to working with the new owner, Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP).
But he stressed they understood that the building of a second runway at the airport is not a priority.
Dr Godfrey said the more-than £1.5 billion sale to the US-based investment fund would “end a period of uncertainty.”
Dr Godfrey said: “I welcome the news of the sale, which will bring to an end a period of uncertainty for the company, its staff and business partners.”
He said: “As the statutory advisory committee for the airport, we look forward to working closely with GIP to see the ‘new’ Gatwick develop.”
He said: “GATCOM has a good relationship with the Gatwick management team, who are always keen to hear our views and thoughts about the operation of the airport.”
Speaking on Wednesday, Dr Godfrey said: “As it happens, GATCOM’s annual tour of the airport and our quarterly meeting take place tomorrow, and we will hear first-hand what the sale will mean.
“As we are all aware, current government policy is that the development of a second runway at Gatwick is not a priority. “That position is reinforced by the acceptance on all sides of the legal agreement between Gatwick and West Sussex County Council that means no new runway can be built before 2019.”
He said: “GATCOM has a strong interest, and a remit, in ensuring the airport, is operated efficiently and effectively, having particular regard to its impact on surrounding communities and the environment.”
GATCOM has 28 appointed representatives from a wide range of interests including local authorities, civil aviation, passenger, business and community and environmental groups.
A Government representative is present at the main GATCOM meetings, together with Gatwick Airport’s managing director and the senior management team.
GATCOM's aims include building interest, communication and understanding between the airport and its users, local residents and the business community.
The group considers airport issues concerned with the environment, surface access, employment, the economy and the circumstances of local communities.
It works with the airport to secure a sustainable development strategy, to protect and enhance the interests of passengers and other users of the airport, considers and comments on matters referred to it by Gatwick Airport Ltd, and looks at and responds to consultations from Government and other sources relevant to the operation and future development of the airport.
Expanded BA service at Gatwick Airport October 21 2009
British Airways customers will soon be able to take advantage of an extended early bag check-in service at Gatwick Airport.
Until now, passengers have had the option to drop off their bag the day before their flight if their departure was scheduled before 15:15 the next day.
When British Airways' winter schedule gets underway on October 25th, however, the airline will allow travellers to check in hold luggage between 16:00 and 22:00 for all flights set to leave Gatwick Airport the following day.
Customers will therefore have the option to drop their bag off the day before they travel, use the carrier's online check-in service and head straight to the departure lounge when they arrive at the airport.
The early bag check-in option has already proved popular and the extension of the service is expected to be welcomed by passengers.
New Gatwick Airport owners already being warned by protestors. October 21 2009
No sooner was the announcement of the sale of Gatwick Airport announced, there were warnings posted to the new owners.
The new owner of Gatwick airport must not "ride roughshod" over the local community, the head of the area's conservation group said today.
There were now concerns that "a faceless international consortium will squeeze every pound it can out of the airport rather than addressing local worries", added Brendon Sewill, chairman of the Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign.
He went on: "We would like to establish at once a good working relationship with the new owners.
"They have to realise that there is in place a strong combination of a conservation campaign group and very supportive local authorities and local MPs."
Mr Sewill added: "We are concerned about noise and pollution and climate change. There are plans to expand the North Terminal at Gatwick to allow for an extra five million passengers a year. We are fighting to ensure that this does not increase noise levels."
Gatwick is bound by a long-standing regulation that there be no second runway before 2019.
Mr Sewill said: "There are other local agreements concerning the airport. We just hope that the new owners will continue the relationship between the airport and the local community."
Andy Flower, managing director of Gatwick Airport, said: "Today's announcement is a landmark day for the airport, our staff, airlines and business partners, members of the local community and of course, the 34 million passengers who choose to fly through Gatwick each year.
"We now look forward to working with Global Infrastructure Partners to maximise the potential of Gatwick."
Stephen Joseph, director of the Campaign for Better Transport, said: "We hope that this news will mean that there will be better service for passengers at Gatwick than that provided by BAA.
"We don't think this should be a green light for expansion at Gatwick. For many reasons, we are opposed to expansion of south east England airports.
"We think Gatwick should be better, not bigger."
Paul Charles, director of communications at Virgin Atlantic Airways, said: "As the largest long-haul airline using the airport, we look forward to working with Global Infrastructure Partners on making Gatwick even better for our passengers.
"For years, the airport has suffered from a lack of investment and the new owner now needs to work closely with the airline users to turn Gatwick into a world-class facility.
"We don't want to see the creation of another BAA and hope GIP listens carefully to the views of airlines about future development."
Bob Atkinson, of travelsupermarket.com, said: "I question whether the new owners have the experience and skills to give customers what they want at Gatwick - namely, a much-improved service.
"On paper, the Manchester Airport Group would have been better owners. GIP is an investment fund which does not necessarily have the full range of experience."
He went on: "Our research shows that people who use Gatwick want to see a reduction in queue times and a much smoother progress through the airport. I just wonder if they are really going to get what they need."
Shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers said: "We have long been calling for the break-up of BAA's monopoly over so much airport capacity in south east England so we welcome progress in taking that forward.
"However, it is vital that the new owners strive to improve the service customers receive and also work with local communities to minimise the airport's environmental impact."
A British Airways spokesman said: "It is regulation not ownership that matters. We want to see Gatwick run as efficiently as possible while maintaining the highest levels of customer service for passengers and airlines.
"We look forward to working with the new owners."
Andy Harrison, chief executive of low-fare airline easyJet, said: "We welcome this change in ownership and look forward to working with GIP.
"Regardless of who owns Gatwick, it is still a monopoly. Therefore it is vital that Gatwick is properly regulated to protect airline passengers from the new owners exploiting their market power.
"It is vital that the Government's review of airport regulation produces a tougher and more effective system than the current discredited one, which has contributed so much to the poor state of London's airports."
Another of the budget carriers - Ryanair - said it welcomed the sale of Gatwick "as the first step in the much-needed break-up of the BAA airport monopoly".
Friends of the Earth's aviation campaigner, Richard Dyer, said: "The new owners of Gatwick should be under no illusions, the challenge of preventing dangerous climate change means that further expansion of the airport cannot be permitted.
"UK emissions must fall by at least 42 per cent by 2020 if we are to play our part in slashing emissions. This means that new runways cannot be contemplated, regardless of who owns Gatwick."
John Burroughes, managing director of Brighton-based the Uniglobe Preferred Travel company, said: "Having watched the slow erosion of services at Gatwick, particularly long-haul flight destinations, I believe this sale is excellent news for travellers and for the south-east economy in general.
"If the new owner begins a much-needed programme of inward investment at the airport, it will generate new jobs locally and improve the overall customer server experience for travellers."
New Owners will invest in Gatwick Airport October 21 2009
Britain's second-biggest airport will have new owners within weeks following a £1.51 billion deal announced today.
Gatwick's current operator BAA, heavily criticised for its stewardship of the West Sussex airport, said it had reached an agreement with US-based investment fund Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP).
GIP, which already owns London City Airport which handles around 32 million customers a year, immediately promised passengers improved services.
But environmental groups said they feared the sale could become a green light for a "damaging" expansion at Gatwick Airport. Airlines said they hoped the new owners would work closely with them to improve the travelling experience for passengers.
There was immediate speculation that GIP would seek planning permission for a second runway at Gatwick - something that is prohibited before 2019 under a long-standing local agreement. However, a spokesman for GIP said a new runway was an issue for the Government and not for the new owners.
BAA put Gatwick up for sale while the Competition Commission (CC) was inquiring into whether the company's ownership of seven UK airports was anti-competitive.
The CC eventually ruled BAA had to sell Gatwick and Stansted and one of either Glasgow or Edinburgh airports - a decision that BAA is currently appealing against at a competition tribunal.
BAA said today that proceeds from the sale of Gatwick would be used to repay part of its debt which stood at £9.6 billion at the end of June.
BAA chief executive Colin Matthews said the company planned to focus on improving Heathrow and its other airports, which include Southampton and Aberdeen.
Michael McGhee, the GIP partner leading the acquisition, said: "We will upgrade and modernise Gatwick Airport to transform the experience for both business and leisure passengers.
"We plan to work closely with the airlines to improve performance, as we have done successfully at London City Airport."
Although there can be no second runway before 2019 there are plans to expand Gatwick's North Terminal to allow for an extra five million passengers a year.
Brendon Sewill, chairman of the Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign, said: "We are worried that a faceless international consortium will squeeze every pound it can out of the airport rather than addressing local worries."
He added that the new owners must not "ride roughshod" over the local community.
Shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers said it was vital that GIP improved services at Gatwick, while Liberal Democrat transport spokesman Norman Baker MP said more had to be done to reduce check-in times.
The Campaign for Better Transport said it wanted to see Gatwick become "better, not bigger".
Steve Turner, the Unite union's national officer for civil aviation, said: "We have an agreement in place with BAA which protects the workers' terms and conditions including, importantly, their final salary pension scheme.
"Our concern now is to ensure that this agreement has come through the sale intact."
Airlines said they were looking forward to working with the new owners, with British Airways saying it wanted to see an efficient Gatwick, and Virgin Atlantic Airways pointing out that the airport had suffered from a lack of investment "for years".
Gatwick's managing director Andy Flower said the announcement was "a landmark day for the airport" and everyone associated with it, while John Burroughes, managing director of the Brighton-based Uniglobe Preferred Travel company, said the sale was "excellent news for travellers and for the south-east England economy in general".
Gatwick opened in 1958 and is the busiest single-runway airport in the world, handling 32.2 million passengers in the 12 months ending September 2009.
It serves more than 200 destinations in 90 countries and generates around 23,000 on-airport jobs plus a further 13,000 indirect posts.
The CC report into BAA's airport ownership was particularly scathing of the company, speaking of poor levels of service for airlines and customers.
The sale of Gatwick is subject to EU merger regulation clearance but this is not expected to be a problem.
A GIP spokesman said: "We hope the deal will be completed by early December."
Gatwick Airport sold October 21 2009
Airport operator BAA has agreed to sell Gatwick Airport , Britain's second busiest airport, for 1.5 billion pounds (2.5 billion dollars, 1.6 billion euros), the Financial Times reported.
Citing people familiar with the matter, the FT reported on its website that the deal with Global Infrastructure Partners, which already own London City Airport, will likely be announced before markets open on Wednesday.
The Competition Commission approved details of the sale late Tuesday, it said.
In August last year, British regulators called for BAA to sell three of its seven airports in Britain -- two in London and one in Scotland -- in order to end a dominance they said hurts both passengers and airlines.
A consortium led by Spanish construction group Ferrovial bought BAA in 2006 for 10.23 billion pounds (11.39 billion euros or 15.06 billion dollars).
Gatwick Airport Monorail Train sent to scrapyard October 19 2009
The six carriages, which carried passengers between the airports North and South terminals, were lifted by a heavy crane on to lorries to begin their final journey to a recycling plant in Berkshire.
The trains have been scrapped as part of a £45 million project, part of an overall investment of nearly £1 billion over five years, to improve 'the passenger experience'.
A bus replacement service was introduced at the end of September while work is underway on the new Shuttle service which will be introduces from April next year with the entire system fully operation by August 2010.
"Our inter-terminal transit system has served us well over 21 years," David Brewer, London Gatwick Airport's Development Director said. "It has travelled two and a half million miles, the equivalent of five round trips to the moon.
"It was state-of-the-art when we introduced it, but modern technology will enable us to have a more reliable, more efficient and more comfortable system for the Gatwick of the future."
Gatwick Airport close to sale October 18 2009
Airport owner BAA, which is disposing of the London hub after a ruling from the Competition Commission (CC), is thrashing out the final details of the sale with GIP, including the price tag.
BAA, which is owned by Spanish group Ferrovial, had wanted £1.6bn for the airport – the regulated asset base benchmark placed on Gatwick Airport by the Civil Aviation Authority – and talks with interested buyers fell apart when the cost could not be agreed. But the two parties were last night understood to mulling a £1.5bn sale.
The news comes as BAA challenges a ruling from the CC, forcing it to sell off some of its assets. The hearing is not expected to affect the sale talks.GIP, a fund backed by US company General Electric, had been bidding against a consortium led by Manchester Airport Group and Borealis, the Canadian infrastructure fund.
A spokesman for BAA last night said that it was “still talking to multiple parties and no deadline was agreed.”
"Morons" using laser pens near Gatwick Airport October 18 2009
Flight crew on an EasyJet flight carrying 140 passengers had a laser pointer aimed at them for around 10 seconds as they approached Gatwick Airport.
Police were called to find the source of the light, believed to be somewhere in Crawley.
A spokeswoman for EasyJet said the incident was reported by flight EZY 8929, which took off from Faro, Portugal.
She added: "At 7.09pm during the descent into London Gatwick, one of the flight deck was dazzled by a bright light for around 10 seconds.
"The pilots followed standard procedures and notified air traffic control so any local police could be notified to track down and apprehend the offenders."Pointing a laser at an aircraft is not just a bit of fun, it is an incredibly stupid and potentially dangerous thing to do."
Sergeant Darren Taylor from Crawley Police told the News officers would speak to flight crew to find out where the light was coming from.
He said: "This isn't the first incident of people shining laser pens at planes and helicopters.
"These mindless idiots really could cause an accident one day and what they think is a joke could become a very serious incident."
Gatwick Airport Survey October 18 2009
The experience that passengers travelling from Gatwick Airport receive is being trialled by airport officials next week. Members of the Gatwick Airport Consultative Committee (GATCOM) will be touring the travel hub on Thursday October 22nd. Dr John Godfrey, chairman of GATCOM, said: “The annual tour is a good opportunity to sample the Gatwick experience at first hand and speak to some of the people who make the airport tick.”
Objections to new Terminal at Gatwick Airport North Terminal October 18 2009
Campaigners against the expansion of Gatwick airport are objecting to plans to extend its North Terminal and build a multi-storey car park to provide more Gatwick Airport Parking.
Gatwick has submitted two applications to Crawley council for developments which will allow it to handle an extra five million passengers a year by 2018.
Objectors say the plans will increase noise, pollution, traffic and create water shortages.
Gatwick Airport said environmental impact had to be balanced with economic benefits.
It added that expansion up to 2018 was in line with government policy, published in the 2003 White Paper, The Future of Air Transport.
The North Terminal extension would provide extra baggage reclaim halls and new check-in facilities and the car park 900 short-stay spaces.
The airport has an agreement with West Sussex County Council not to build a second runway before 2019.
But East Surrey MP Peter Ainsworth, whose constituency borders the airport, has objected to the planning applications.
"There is a widely held view that every application for the expansion at BAA's airports - although billed by the company as the final demand - is in fact just part of an incremental process of unsustainable growth," he said.
"Similar suspicion hangs over the present applications."
He said the applications were premature, bearing in mind the airport is up for sale.
Surrey branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England says the new owners are quite likely to have different ideas on how they want to run the airport.
Gatwick Area Conservation Group agrees the application is premature because the aviation industry is suffering from a "severe recession".
And it says: "The proposed increase in the size of Gatwick is likely to give rise to national controversy, especially in relation to climate change."
'Significant benefits'
The applications are due to be considered by the Crawley's development control committee on Monday, but a decision is not expected before 10 November.
A spokesman for the airport said: "Gatwick's planning application for North Terminal forms part of the airport's capital investment programme which will see £1bn invested over five years.
"To remain successful the significant economic and social benefits of Gatwick Airport need to be balanced with the environmental impact of the airport.
"London Gatwick Airport remains committed to sustainable and balanced growth and recognises the affect the airport has on its neighbours."
Gatwick Airport voted best UK airport October 13 2009
London Gatwick Airport has been crowned the best major UK airport at the Travel Bulletin Star Awards.
The travel hub, which is the UK's second busiest airport, beat competition from Heathrow and Manchester Airport to win the accolade.
Andy Flower, managing director at Gatwick Airport, said it was a "great day" for the travel hub.
It is the sixth time that Gatwick has won the award, which is voted for by travel agents.
Mike Luddy, the airport's commercial director, commented: "We are working hard to put the passenger at the heart of everything we do and make Gatwick the first choice for airlines and passengers."
The prize comes as Gatwick signed a contract for redevelopment work worth £31.3 million.
Construction at the south terminal is expected to improve the passenger experience and accommodate future growth.
Earlier this week, Gatwick Airport reported that September's traffic figures were its best since May 2008.
Miss Owen, of Aberdeen, was delivered at 7,000ft in the first class compartment of a Boeing 747 jet as it approached Gatwick Airport.
A unique entry on her passport reads: "Holder born on an aeroplane, 10 miles south of Mayfield, Sussex".
Now the 18-year-old, who was born six weeks early, has celebrated her coming of age in style with a free flight to Australia to see her grandmother courtesy of the airline – first class of course.
"I was a bit too young to appreciate all the luxuries of BA's first-class service last time," she told The Sun.
Miss Owen's mother, Deborah, was flying back to the UK from Accra in Ghana, where she had been working, when she went into Labour.
Wym Bakker, a Dutch doctor who was travelling on the aircraft, delivered the baby with the assistance from the cabin crew.
Meanwhile other member's of the crew helped distract Miss Owen's older sister Claire, who is now 22, with colouring books and crayons.
Mrs Owen, now 53, told the newspaper: "It was an amazing day. Giving birth in BA's first-class cabin was far more luxurious than the hospital I was heading home for, and the crew and doctor were marvellous."
To mark her unusual birth, Miss Owen was given the names Shona Kirsty Yves – spelling out the initials SKY.
Opposition to Gatwick Airport expansion plans October 10 2009
The West Sussex airport has a planning application to extend its north terminal to enable it to cope with its target of 40-million passengers a year – around eight million more than at present – and build a second multi-storey car park.
But the plans, submitted in July, have sparked controversy with members of Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign and Charlwood Parish Council.
In a joint statement, the two groups said: "We object to this application on the grounds that it is premature, and that the proposed development would mean more noise, more pollution, more traffic, more danger to the public, more pressure on scarce water resources, would have damaging economic consequences, and would be contrary to Government climate-change targets."
It added: "Since the application is of national significance, and since all the adverse effects would have a much wider impact than on the residents of Crawley, we consider that there is a strong case for this application to be called in for decision by the Secretary of State after a public inquiry."
Qatar Airlines flies to Gatwick Airport with new fuel October 13 2009
Qatar Airways this week operated a flight between London Gatwick Airport and Doha that was powered by fuel made from natural gas.
Shell’s Gary Woodward, general manager operations and technical supply, said the fuel was a 50-50 blend of synthetic gas-to-liquids (GTL) kerosene and conventional oil-based kerosene.
However, while the GTL fuel has lower emissions of pollutants affecting local air quality, no-one’s claiming it will reduce CO2 emissions and Jeff Gazzard, board member of the Aviation Environment Federation group, said: “GTL is useful for local airport air quality but has a higher carbon footprint than ordinary fuel.”
Gatwick Airport decision imminent October 12 2009
Global Infrastructure Partners, the owner of London City Airport, is on the verge of agreeing a deal to buy Gatwick airport from BAA, according to reports.
GIP – a joint venture between Credit Suisse, and General Electric are about to clinch a deal to pay £1.6bn for the asset, just short of the Civil Aviation Authority’s valuation.
However, the Manchester Airports Group/ Borealis/Greater Manchester Pension Fund are still reported to be in the running to acquire the asset from BAA.
A unnamed source close to Ferrovial, BAA’s parent, was quoted by the Financial Times today as saying: “There are still two interested parties. The question now is whether they can secure financing and clear a few other hurdles."
BAA is appealing against the Competition Commission’s decision earlier this year to force it to sell three of its airports: Gatwick, Stansted or either its Glasgow or Edinburgh Airport.
In July it was reported that MAG had pulled out a bid to acquire Gatwick after failing to meet BAA's expectations on price.
MAG, whose consortium includes Canadian pension fund Borealis and the Greater Manchester Pension Fund, offered £1.38bn – £100m short of the minimum BAA wanted.
BAA was ordered to sell by the Competition Commission earlier this year and has until 2012 to find a buyer.
Bidders still looking at Gatwick Airport October 11 2009
Several potential bidders are believed to be showing signs of interest in attempting to purchase Gatwick airport, it has been reported.
Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), the investment fund started by Credit Suisse and General Electric, is currently leading the race, according to the Financial Times, although there are a number of other prominent organisations who could be tempted to make a bid for the airport.
GIP has already had one offer rejected by Gatwick airport's current owners this year, but with the economy improving, it is believed that more bidders may now be willing to reach a more acceptable valuation of the site.
Plane headed for Gatwick Airport turns back October 11 2009
An Airbus carrying 255 passengers was forced to make an emergency landing on Tuesday in Newfoundland as a result of cracked windshield, media reports said.
The aeroplane had been cruising over the Atlantic while en route from Toronto to London's Gatwick Airport when its windshield cracked, Canadian broadcaster CBC reported.
The pilot turned the Airbus 310 around and landed safely at St John's International Airport in Canada's coastal province of Newfoundland.
No one was injured, according to airport director Bob Nurse.
Gatwick Airport Terminal Expansion may be delayed October 8 2009
A plan to extend Gatwick Airport's North Terminal may be called in by the Government and spark a public inquiry.
That is the hope of the Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign (GACC) which has written to Crawley Borough Council's head of planning objecting to the full application from the airport for the building of southern and eastern extensions to the North Terminal in Departures Road.
The environmental group, which is based in Charlwood and has about 100 local councils and bodies as members, has called on the Government Office for the South East to call in the planning application for a full public inquiry.
GACC, which is concerned with the impact of the airport, said the application sought to expand the terminal to enable Gatwick to handle 40 million passengers a year with 20,000 extra flights.
The group recently slammed a report from BAA Gatwick called Gatwick and Climate Change, claiming the airport was one of the biggest polluters in the south of England.
East Surrey MP Peter Ainsworth has also attacked the North Terminal application saying it was inappropriate given that passenger numbers have fallen in recent times, the airport was in the process of changing ownership, and there was an on-going consultation on its future Noise Action Plan.
GACC, which was set up in 1965 and which counts about 100 councils and local groups as members covering an area of about 20 miles radius around the airport, said it objected to the application on grounds including that it is premature, and that the proposed development would mean more noise, more pollution, more traffic, and more danger to the public.
GACC also said it would put more pressure on scarce water resources, would have damaging economic consequences, and be contrary to Government climate change targets.
GACC chairman Brendon Sewill said: “The World Wildlife Fund have also objected and Mole Valley, Tandridge District Council and Reigate and Banstead Borough Council have all requested that a condition should be imposed on any expansion of Gatwick that there should be no increase in noise, and that the number of aircraft should be limited to ensure that.”
He said: “Basically, we don't mind as long as the environment doesn't get worse.
“It's supported by all three of the neighbouring authorities and it's a strong reason why the Government may decide there should be a public inquiry.”
Mr Sewill said the plan may be called in by the Government because it affects an area wider than the planning authority – Crawley – and is likely to be a matter of regional or national controversy over its climate change implications.
“Also, it's a very big increase and anywhere else you would automatically think you would have a public inquiry,” he said.
Crawley Borough Council planners are expected to make a decision on the application in early November.
Gatwick Airport flights to Montenegro September 30 2009
The world’s largest charter airline, Thomson Airways, will commence seasonal services to Tivat from London Gatwick Airport on May 5, 2010. The airline will be offering holiday packages to Montenegro, as well as selling individual airline tickets. The new arrival could give a big boost to the Montenegrin tourism industry. Packages to Montenegro, with Thomson, can already be booked. The flights will run from May 5 until October 6.
Thomson will be in direct competition with Montenegro Airlines on this service, although the Montenegrin carrier can relax as Thomson’s tickets will only be slightly cheaper. Thomson is no stranger to the EX-YU region, operating flights to the Croatian coast during the summer. The airline also at one time operated winter flights to Niš in Serbia.
Gatwick Airport drug couriers jailed September 26 2009
A Norwich man has been jailed for seven years after he was caught at an airport with more than £80,000 of pure cocaine in his suitcase.
Two Norfolk men were stopped by customs officers at Gatwick Airport on a return trip from Barbados, and one of them was found to have £81,200 worth of 100pc pure cocaine in his luggage.
At Croydon Crown Court on Wednesday, Anthony Ashford, a 42 year-old chef, of Rosebery Road, Great Plumstead, was jailed for seven years after pleading guilty to a charge of smuggling.
With him was Benjamin Thomson, 24, of Clarkson Road, Norwich, who, at his trial, denied any knowledge of the drugs and was acquitted.
Michael Wells, prosecuting, said the men went abroad on April 16 and came back to this country on April 27.
In the nothing-to-declare green channel their suitcases were searched.
In Thomson's case were several items of clothing, but it was revealed that Ashford was carrying in his black case two packages of white powder hidden under a pillow.
Mr Wells aid: “The powder weighed two kilos and it tested for cocaine and a later analysis showed there was 862 grammes of 100 per cent purity.”
Ashford at first denied that it was his case, and it was discovered that the tag on it had the name of a passenger who had been on the same Virgin Atlantic flight.
Thomson told the jury he knew nothing about the cocaine in Ashford's luggage.
Judge Daniel Flahive told divorced father-of-two Ashford: “Acting as a drugs courier is a very serious offence. You went out for that purpose and it is apparent from the evidence that you took the details of an innocent fellow passenger who would not have known that his identity was being used.
“Trafficking in cocaine is terrible. It leads to greater addiction and brings suffering and sometimes even death. It also affects others in society.”
Gatwick Airport to get new car park September 16 2009
Gatwick Airport has invited tenders for a £15m contract to build a multi-storey car park. The contract involves the design, fabrication, supply and construction of an 1,100-space building, in a "ground plus 6 raised level configuration". The car park is to be built on a 3,200m2 site, with spiral access ramps external to the building's footprint. The contract is set to last 14 months and the time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate is 28 September 2009.
Passenger numbers up at Gatwick Airport September 14 2009
BAA has announced that passenger numbers were up at London Gatwick Airport during August,with domestic traffic increasing by 1.2% and European scheduled 5.6% more travellers,
Two arrested at Gatwick Airport September 9 2009
Eithel Lamberto Mathilda, 51, and Rosa Maria Gutierrez, 41, of Rotterdam were arrested on Tuesday after officials found 10kg of the drug in their luggage as they arrived on a flight from the Dominican Republic.
The pair were due to appear at Haywards Heath Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.
Peter Avery of HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) said: "HMRC investigators and their UK Border Agency colleagues are determined to stop illicit drugs from reaching our streets.
"Drugs devastate lives and communities, and we would urge anyone with information about illegal smuggling to call the Customs' Hotline on 0800 59 5000."
Consultation on Gatwick Airport Noise September 8 2009
Campaigners fighting aircraft noise from Gatwick Airport are calling for a final push from people with responses before a key consultation deadline.
Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign (GACC) is trying to rally responses to the airport's draft noise action plan before the end of the 16-week public consultation on it on Wednesday, October 7.
The airport's operator, BAA, is consulting on the plan after the European Union ruled it had to produce a better one.
GACC, which is based in Charlwood and which aims to steadily reduce noise and pollution from Gatwick, is calling for residents to have their say on whether they think the draft plan goes far enough.
After the EU called on the airport to use the Lden measurement of average noise, the group said results showed almost 12,000 people were seriously affected by noise from Gatwick, where before the airport had maintained the number was less than 4,000.
BAA will hold the last of three public meetings on the draft plan at the Gatwick Conference and Business Centre on the seventh floor of Norfolk House at the airport's South Terminal on Thursday, September 17, at 7pm.
Brendon Sewill, chairman of GACC, said the meetings wer