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Gatwick News Archive

Delta celebrates 30 years since Gatwick launch

Delta celebrates 30 years since Gatwick launchDelta Airlines has recently celebrated 30 years since it first began transatlantic services.

The carrier launched its connection between Atlanta and London Gatwick Airport on April 30th 1978, representing a milestone in its business and the growth of the Atlanta hub.

Speaking 30 years ago, Delta's vice-chairman of the board RS Maurer said that the launch was "a dream come true" that took more than a decade to realise.
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EasyJet forecasts strong bank holiday traffic

EasyJet forecasts strong bank holiday trafficEasyJet has predicted that the May bank holiday will prove a popular period for spring getaways, with some 450,000 passengers expected to use its flights over the long weekend.

Britain is set to see a spell of cold and wet weather for the coming weekend and easyJet expects sunshine hotspots to prove the most popular among UK travellers.

The Iberian destinations of Alicante, Faro and Malaga are set to be the top foreign holiday spots, while Edinburgh is expected to be the number one city break location, followed by Amsterdam, Barcelona and Geneva.
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Gatwick to host first low-cost flights to Vigo

Gatwick to host first low-cost flights to VigoClickair has claimed that it will soon become the first low-cost airline to fly from the UK to Vigo in northern Spain.

The service between Gatwick Airport and the city in South Galicia, in the Pontevedra province, will begin on June 21st and operate three times a week.

Some 60,000 travellers are expected to use the route in its first year, bringing the total number of passengers through Vigo's Peinador airport in 2008 to 1.5 million.
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BA to launch from Gatwick to JFK

BA to launch from Gatwick to JFKBritish Airways is to boost its transatlantic services later this year by launching a daily connection between Gatwick Airport and New York JFK.

The carrier's new service, which will bring its total number of weekly flights between London and JFK to 62, will begin on October 27th.

BA already offers 55 flights a week to New York JFK from Heathrow Airport.
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Gatwick hires new traffic control firm

Gatwick hires new traffic control firmA new company has been appointed to carry out traffic marshalling services at Gatwick Airport.

The airport announced that it had awarded a contract to Vinci Park to carry out a new scheme to improve traffic flows and security around Gatwick, which should benefit passengers and people using the hub's airport parking facilities.

Vinci Park's operations, which will focus on perimeter roads and forecourts, will be part of Gatwick's strategy to improve accessibility to its terminals, where passenger traffic is on an upward trend.
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Cheap flights to Iceland offered at Gatwick

Cheap flights to Iceland offered at GatwickIceland Express will be flying from Reykjavik to London Gatwick on a daily basis at the beginning of the winter flight schedule this year, according to IceNews.

The low-fare airline service is also celebrating its fifth anniversary this year and reported a 20 per cent increase in its passengers in 2007.

The airline flies to nearly 20 destinations around Europe including Stansted, Stockholm, Alicante, Warsaw, Copenhagen, Barcelona, Berln and Eindhoven.
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Gatwick to lift bag limit

Gatwick to lift bag limitGatwick Airport has announced that, from March 31st, its passengers will be able to carry more than one bag through security.

The hub will join a number of other airports in taking advantage of the government's relaxation of the luggage limit, which was announced on January 7th this year.

Gatwick did not immediately lift the restriction as it needed time to install new x-ray and archway technology in central search areas, developments that have now been completed.
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BA unveils new Gatwick services

BA unveils new Gatwick servicesBritish Airways has announced a number of new services that it will be offering from Gatwick Airport this summer, many of which will be of interest to leisure travellers.

The first phase of the launch of BA's summer schedule will take place on March 30th, with new services from Gatwick to Alicante, Faro, Gibraltar, Malaga, Malta, Palma, Poznan and Tunis.

Genoa will be the next European destination to see flights from Gatwick on April 4th, before Antalya welcomes visitors on April 10th, followed by Ibiza on June 1st and Paphos on July 1st.
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Gatwick prepares for busy Easter

Gatwick prepares for busy EasterGatwick Airport is preparing for a particularly busy Easter period over the coming weekend, with more than 600,000 people expected to pass through between March 20th and 25th.

Sunday March 23rd is expected to be the busiest day of the period, with around 108,000 passengers travelling through Gatwick.

Geneva, Malaga, Dublin, Tenerife and Orlando are set to be the most popular destinations from Gatwick this weekend, followed by Faro, Alicante and Edinburgh, with the Spanish cities of Madrid and Barcelona rounding off the top ten.
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Gatwick Express passengers treated to free Guinness

Gatwick Express passengers treated to free GuinnessPeople using the Gatwick Express train service on March 15th will be offered free drinks of Guinness to accompany their journey.

The initiative has been organised by the train service operator to mark St Patrick's Day, which will be celebrated two days earlier than the usual March 17th this year to avoid a clash with a Christian holy day.

People on train platforms at Gatwick Airport and Victoria station will be offered the drink between 11:00 and 16:00 GMT.
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New business services for Gatwick passengers

New business services for Gatwick passengersBusiness travellers using Air Southwest flights from Gatwick Airport can now access a range of new services.

Air Southwest currently flies four times a day, seven days a week from Gatwick to Plymouth and Newquay.

Its recently-launched 'Business Plus' service enables passengers to change their flights at any time up to two hours before departure at no extra charge.
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Spain, Portugal boost air access

Spain, Portugal boost air accessUK travellers can look forward to greater access to the Iberian peninsula in the future after the green light was given to two new airport developments.

The first new hub will be built in the town of Huelva in south-eastern Spain, an expanding tourist location that has not yet achieved the exposure of the likes of Malaga and Alicante.

This development will aid travel to the area as current infrastructure means that people wanting to visit Huelva must do so via Faro airport in Portugal or Seville in southern Spain, the International Herald Tribune reports.
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KD avia boosts frequency from Gatwick

KD avia boosts frequency from GatwickRussian airline KD avia has announced that it is to boost the frequency of its flights from Gatwick Airport to Kaliningrad.

The carrier revealed that the connection, which uses a Boeing 737 aircraft, will operate on a daily basis from summer 2008.

Journey duration is around two hours 20 minutes and passengers will be able to connect to 12 cities in Russia and Astana in Kazakhstan.
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Gatwick gives notice of emergency exercise

Gatwick gives notice of emergency exercisePeople planning to travel from Gatwick Airport on March 5th have been informed that an emergency exercise will be carried out at the base.
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Gatwick Airport eases hand luggage rules

Gatwick Airport eases hand luggage rulesPassengers catching connecting flights from the north terminal of Gatwick Airport are now able to carry more than one piece of hand luggage with them after security rules were eased.

From today (February 11th) passengers transferring between flights at the hub can take more than one piece of hand baggage with them, subject to their airline's restrictions on what they can take aboard flights.

The move comes a little over a month after passengers on connecting flights through the south terminal were once again permitted to take more than one bag through the airport.
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Malta welcomes new access from UK airports

Malta welcomes new access from UK airportsThe Malta Tourist Board has welcomed the new access from UK airports that it is set to benefit from this year.

British Airways, Air Malta and easyJet have all recently announced service changes that will lead to increased visits to the Mediterranean island in 2008.

BA recently confirmed that it will operate a daily service between Gatwick Airport and Malta, which will replace a flight currently offered by the airline's former franchise partner GB Airways.
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Low-cost airline to offer new Gatwick service

Low-cost airline to offer new Gatwick serviceClickair has announced that it is to launch new low-cost flights from Gatwick Airport to Spain this year.

The carrier said that it will begin daily services to Bilbao in northern Spain from March 30th, a route that was previously operated by national carrier Iberia.

Bilbao will be clickair's second destination from London Gatwick and its fifth Spanish service from the UK, with flights currently available to Valencia and La Coruna from Heathrow Airport.
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Monarch carries 1 millionth Gatwick-Malaga passenger

Monarch carries 1 millionth Gatwick-Malaga passengerLow-fares airline Monarch has reached a milestone in its operations from Gatwick Airport, carrying its one millionth passenger to the Spanish city of Malaga.

The carrier rewarded Hazel MacArthur and her husband Roderick from East Sussex with a pair of free flights.

Mr MacArthur said that the couple travel to Malaga five or six times a year as they own a house there.
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Gatwick, Manchester top destinations from Malta

Gatwick, Manchester top destinations from MaltaMalta International Airport (MIA) has released its passenger figures for 2007, revealing that London Gatwick Airport and Manchester Airport were its top two destinations.

Gatwick had a 10.2 per cent share of total traffic from Malta, while Manchester saw eight per cent of the market.

Overall, the UK was the most popular destination for travel from MIA in 2007, with over 1.1 million passengers, or 37 per cent of the market, followed by Italy (15.7 per cent) and Germany (14.3 per cent).
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Investment 'paying dividends' at Gatwick

Investment 'paying dividends' at GatwickGatwick Airport has released figures covering its operations in December 2007 and claimed that they are reflective of the investment that was made in the hub last year.

In the final month of the year, Gatwick handled nearly 2.5 million passengers, which is an increase of 2.7 per cent on December 2006.

The Republic of Ireland saw the biggest boost in flights from the London airport, with a 19.7 per cent year-on-year increase in passenger numbers.
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Gatwick breaks 35m barrier

Gatwick breaks 35m barrierGatwick Airport has announced that in the 12 months to the end of November 2007, it handled over 35 million passengers for the first time.

In November Gatwick saw a passenger increase of 6.2 per cent compared to the same month in 2006.

There was an increase of 15 per cent in the number of people travelling to and from the Republic of Ireland and a rise of 12 per cent in long-haul travellers outside the North Atlantic.
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Gatwick 'most popular British airport'

Gatwick 'most popular British airport'Gatwick Airport is the most popular British travel base among holidaymakers from the UK, according to the Telegraph Travel Awards 2007.

Readers of the newspaper voted Gatwick their top UK hub, followed by Manchester Airport and Birmingham Airport.

The most popular destination for international travellers this year was New Zealand, according to the award results, followed by island nation the Maldives in the Indian Ocean, and Australia.
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Gatwick hosts first flights from Muscat

Gatwick hosts first flights from MuscatGatwick Airport has this week hosted its first direct flights from Muscat, the capital of Oman, provided by national carrier Oman Air.

The first service touched down on November 26th and flights will continue to run six times a week using Airbus A330 aircraft.

Business and first class passengers will have access to "state-of-the-art" airport lounges at both Muscat and Gatwick airports and the flights will also carry economy travellers.
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Upgraded lounge at Gatwick Airport

Upgraded lounge at Gatwick AirportA newly refurbished airport lounge has been opened at Gatwick, offering passengers a number of new features and amenities.

The new executive lounge is located at the north terminal of Gatwick Airport and covers an area of 4,000 square feet, making it twice the size of the previous facility.

BAA Gatwick said the lounge could be used as an "alternative relaxation area" or somewhere to get some work done before boarding a flight.
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Long-haul growth for Gatwick in October

Long-haul growth for Gatwick in OctoberGatwick Airport saw year-on-year growth of 13.1 per cent in long-haul passenger numbers in October, the latest figures released by the hub have shown.

North American traffic was one of the most substantial contributors to overall expansion from Gatwick, with an 11.3 per cent rise in passengers last month, while the European scheduled market saw a 9.6 per cent increase in activity.

Overall, Gatwick Airport handled more than three million passengers in October, which is an increase of 4.9 per cent on the same month in 2006.
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Gatwick travel centre 'puts passenger needs first'

Gatwick travel centre 'puts passenger needs first'A spokesperson for Gatwick Airport has claimed that the hub's new onward travel centre is focused on putting the needs of the passenger first.

Caroline Alderson, head of communications for the airport, said there were a number of factors that led to the creation of the travel centre, chief among which were passenger needs and environmental concerns.

"The environmental factor…[is] important to us," she said. "But also, it's about putting the passenger's needs first.
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New Gatwick service to Jamaica launched

New Gatwick service to Jamaica launchedA new Virgin Atlantic service from Gatwick Airport to Kingston in Jamaica was launched on October 30th.

Flights will leave London every Tuesday and Saturday and return from the Caribbean every Wednesday and Sunday.

Virgin Atlantic chairman Richard Branson welcomed travellers on the inaugural flight to Kingston, which is the airline's second destination in Jamaica following the commencement of services to Montego Bay in July 2006.
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EasyJet 'strengthens position' at Gatwick

EasyJet 'strengthens position' at GatwickLow-fares airline easyJet has announced the acquisition of GB Airways, a development it said would further strengthen its position at Gatwick Airport.

The carrier announced that it had agreed to buy GB Airways, excluding its slots at Heathrow Airport, for £103.5 million.

GB Airways is a Gatwick-based point-to-point airline that served destinations in southern Europe and north Africa under a previous franchise agreement with British Airways.
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Gatwick to simplify onward travel

Gatwick to simplify onward travelPassengers using Gatwick Airport will have the onward legs of their journeys made easier from October 29th with the opening of a new travel centre.

The structure will bring together all the public transport services available at Gatwick in one place, in the airport's south terminal on the site of the former smoking area.

Services from providers such as National Express Coaches, Southern Trains, Gatwick Express and other companies will be available at the onward travel centre.
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Nearly half a million use Gatwick over half-term weekend

Nearly half a million use Gatwick over half-term weekendGatwick Airport handled nearly half a million passengers between October 19th and 22nd as thousands of families took advantage of the half-term break to go on holiday.

The busiest day of all was Friday October 19th, with around 115,000 passengers travelling from Gatwick.

Traditional holiday hotspots in countries such as Spain and Portugal were the most popular options from the London hub.
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New BA services from Gatwick next year

New BA services from Gatwick next yearBritish Airways has announced that it will be offering two new services to Poland and Turkey from Gatwick Airport next year.

The carrier's network from the London hub will include routes to Poznan and Antalya from next spring, with the connection to Poland operating on a daily basis from March 30th.

Poznan will be one of three Polish locations served by BA from Gatwick, along with Krakow and Warsaw, which is moving from Heathrow Airport.
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More Russian destinations available from Gatwick

More Russian destinations available from GatwickGatwick Airport passengers will have access to more destinations in Russia this winter with an airline announcing expansions to its services.

From October 29th KD Avia will begin flying to Orenburg, Ulyanovsk, Perm, Rostov-on-Don and Magnitogorsk.

This brings the total number of Russian destinations served by the carrier from Gatwick to 14, with Moscow and St Petersburg also among its network locations.
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Brazil 'now easily accessible' from Gatwick

Brazil 'now easily accessible' from GatwickBrazil is now easily accessible for holidaymakers flying from Gatwick Airport, an expert on investment in foreign countries has claimed.

Rhiannon Williamson, director of investment advice group Amberlamb, said that the Brazilian government has steadily increased investment in infrastructure and supported the tourism industry in the country.

With this investment, service from airlines and access from European airports has reportedly improved as well.
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West Ireland services return to Gatwick

West Ireland services return to GatwickServices from Gatwick Airport to the west of Ireland are to be reinstated by XL.com, the company has announced.

The route between the London hub and Ireland West Airport Knock was previously operated by other airlines up to October 2006.

XL.com said that it is bringing the service back following "huge customer demand".
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BAA to install new X-ray machines

BAA to install new X-ray machinesGatwick Airport and the rest of BAA's seven UK hubs will be fitted with new X-ray machines next year.

Following successful tests at Glasgow Airport, the Advanced Threat Identification X-ray devices will be installed at all of BAA's passenger facilities from March 2008, including Heathrow's new Terminal 5.

The new technology, developed by Smiths Detection, is taking over from existing X-ray machines owing to its ability to automatically identify explosives and liquids.
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Winehouse jets into Gatwick Airport

Winehouse jets into Gatwick AirportAmy Winehouse arrived at Gatwick Airport to flashing camera bulbs and teeming paparazzi on Monday, amid speculation that she had timed her return in order to be able to attend the Mercury Music Awards.

The 23-year-old singer had been holidaying in lush Caribbean island St Lucia with husband Blake Fielder-Civil

She is nominated for the Mercury Music Awards, alongside 12 other solo and group artists including Arctic Monkeys and New Young Pony Club, for her second album, Back to Black.
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Men in uniform tackle immigration at UK airports

Men in uniform tackle immigration at UK airportsImmigration officials at Gatwick Airport have begun wearing uniforms in a bid to strengthen the public's sense of security, according to press reports.

With security officials reporting public confusion over regulations such as the volume of liquids travellers are permitted to take onboard aircraft, it seems that keeping the public 'in the know' about the latest security developments is vital to ensuring a smooth transit and peace of mind as they pass through travel hubs.

The government scheme to put immigration officials at Gatwick in uniform was designed to bolster public confidence in the work of the immigration services, Home Office minister Tony McNulty commented.
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Flexible holidays to help workers get away

Flexible holidays to help workers get awayForthcoming changes in holiday allowance will enable more UK workers to leave the country for short breaks and week-long getaways, Thomson.co.uk has predicted.

From October this year, two million full-time employees will benefit from 24 days' annual holiday including bank holidays, while holiday entitlement will rise to 28 days' holiday by 2009.

Those additional days will give workers added flexibility on working dates, allowing Britons to flee to sunnier climes for extended weekend breaks or longer sojourns abroad.
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Keep hold of holiday insurance, 'Facebook generation' told

Keep hold of holiday insurance, 'Facebook generation' toldBritain's 'Facebook generation' risk being refused medical treatment or emergency financial help if they forget to take holiday insurance documents overseas with them when they travel, data analysts Thunderhead have warned.

More than one in two people aged 23 to 35 confessed that they have omitted to take insurance papers with them on holiday, but their negligence could leave them in a tight corner if they need to contact their insurer in case of accident, theft or loss.

"In many countries holiday-makers are denied assistance unless they can produce the necessary proof of an insurance policy, leading to unnecessary delays in processing medical treatment or financial assistance," Thunderhead's chief executive Glen Manchester explained.

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Baby boy born between Manchester Airport and Gatwick Airport

Baby boy born between Manchester Airport and Gatwick AirportThe parents of a baby boy born in mid-air on a First Choice flight from Manchester Airport to Heraklion, Crete are celebrating his return to good health

His mother, Nicola Delemere, aged 31, was 25 weeks pregnant when her waters broke on board the plane.

The flight was diverted but Mrs Delemere gave birth to tiny Alfie, who weighed just 1lb 1oz and was having difficulty breathing, while the jet was still cruising at 30,000 feet.
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Gatwick advices 'ample preparation' ahead of bank holiday

Gatwick advices 'ample preparation' ahead of bank holidayGatwick Airport has advised customers travelling though its gates over the coming bank holiday weekend to minimise any inconvenience by preparing thoroughly in advance of their journey.

An estimated 510,000 people are expected to pass through Gatwick over the long weekend, headed to hotter climes or returning from summer breaks, with passenger traffic of 134,000 people expected on Friday August 24th alone.

Travellers are being advised to check in luggage in advance online and familiarise themselves with regulations on transporting liquids and the size and number of pieces of hand luggage permitted under tightened security restrictions.
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Demand for air travel to Asia up but economy class prices fall

Demand for air travel to Asia up but economy class prices fallAverage fares for flights to Asia rose two per cent between March and June as demand for travel to the region increased, American Express Business Travel has reported.

In spite of an often bitter public climate change debate, it seems that travellers' appetite to hit the Asia-Pacific has not abated, with thousand flying out of Gatwick Airport and Heathrow Airport each year looking for adventure.

Japan and Australia are the largest powers in the region, but a host of hot spots favoured by travellers on a shoestring, such as Thailand and Laos, are nearby.
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Travelocity takes the rap for 'inadvertent' Cuba flights

Travelocity takes the rap for 'inadvertent' Cuba flightsAn online travel firm in America has been fined for breach of regulations after helping holidaymakers book flights to Cuba.
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UK houses top airport lounges

UK houses top airport loungesThree UK airport lounges have been named in a list of the top ten most luxurious places to relax pre-flight in the world.

Travel writer Jeffrey Mills reported in the Telegraph that the UK houses some of the best lounges to prepare for a long journey with some of them offering facilities such as spas and hairdressing salons.

Those praised by Mr Mills were the First Class Concorde Room lounge at Heathrow Airport for first-class British Airways passengers, the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse - also at Heathrow - and the British Airways Terraces at Gatwick Airport.
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Checking-out for good?

Checking-out for good?Most people who fly out of one of the UK's airports are planning to return within a week or two, but new research has shown that some passengers don't bother coming home at all.

Millions of people head off for holidays and gap years from Gatwick and Heathrow airports but the appeal of living abroad means that many are checking-out for good.

New research by HostelBookers.com revealed that 59 per cent of people who go travelling seriously consider breaking off all ties with the UK and setting up elsewhere.
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Gatwick gearing up for busiest period

Gatwick gearing up for busiest periodBrits are making a last ditch attempt to get some sun out of the summer and as a result, Gatwick Airport is bracing itself for its busiest period of the year at the weekend.

As many as 137,000 passengers are expected to descend upon airport lounges at Gatwick on Sunday July 29th alone with the top destinations proving to be southern Spain and Portugal.

High demand has been reported by British Airways for flights to its French destinations and tour operator First Choice has warned potential holidaymakers that they face "minimal availability" on many flights abroad.
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More airports could see foreign currency ATMs

More airports could see foreign currency ATMsHolidaymakers may soon receive more choice in terms of where they purchase their foreign currency from, with cash machine network Link stating that more ATMs will offer the service.

At present, airports such as Gatwick and Glasgow Airport offer travellers the option of purchasing foreign money from ATMs and supermarket giant Tesco recently announced its intention to increase its foreign currency cash machine network from four to 20.

While in the airport lounge, travellers will find that they can access currency such as American dollars and euros before flying, meaning they have money with them before disembarking.
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BAA passenger numbers down for June

BAA passenger numbers down for JuneThe recent terror scare at Glasgow Airport saw BAA's passenger numbers dip in June by 0.6 per cent compared to the same period last year.

In total, BAA's UK airports dealt with around 13.8 million flyers in the month, with European scheduled traffic up 0.8 per cent.

However, European charter traffic fell by 7.2 per cent for the month, along with domestic and Irish Republic traffic, which dropped by 3.7 per cent and 4.2 per cent respectively.
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Boeing launches fuel-efficient Dreamliner

Boeing launches fuel-efficient DreamlinerWorld renowned plane maker Boeing has finally launched its new fuel-efficient 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

It is the company's first new jet for 12 years and Boeing believes it is the most environmentally-friendly plane available, with the majority of the aircraft's body made from carbon fibre instead of aluminium.

Around 15,000 guests were present at Boeing's Washington-based facility to witness the unveiling.
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Gatwick Airport to detail environmental, economic and social performance

Gatwick Airport to detail environmental, economic and social performanceGatwick Airport is set to publish its Corporate Responsibility Report and website this week, detailing its progress on environmental, economic and social performance for 2006-07.

The report will also provide information on how Gatwick Airport manages corporate responsibility, exploring the successful partnerships BAA has forged with local authorities, airlines, the local community and voluntary organisations.

It is BAA Gatwick managing director Andy Flower's first report and he suggested he was pleased with the successes the airport had achieved over the past year.
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Suspect package forces Heathrow evacuation

Suspect package forces Heathrow evacuationFlyers that were set to leave the UK from Heathrow Airport's Terminal Four were forced to evacuate the building yesterday (July 3rd), after a suspect package was discovered at the site.

Police acted after a bag was discovered shortly before 12:00 BST and thousands of travellers faced delays.

The terminal is now open again, although around 55 flights had to be cancelled due to the scare.
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Flyers set to race over for British Grand Prix

Flyers set to race over for British Grand PrixBritain's airports will quite literally be gearing up for some extra traffic in the coming days, ahead of the British Formula One Grand Prix at Silverstone.

The country's most famous motor race gets underway with qualifying on Saturday, before the big race on Sunday.

Heathrow Airport and Gatwick Airport are just two of the UK's major airports that will be anticipating a number of racing fans coming from all over the world to watch the spectacle, with airport hotels sure to be packed out with eager Formula One enthusiasts.
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Airport ATMs to dish out foreign money

Airport ATMs to dish out foreign moneyThe flying experience at London's major airports is set to be enhanced further, with the addition of new cash machines that dispense foreign currency, the Times reveals.

Many flyers will no longer be forced to face arduous queues at bureau de change in order to obtain their international travel money.

Euros and Dollars will be available at the ATMs at the same exchange rate as the bureau, but unlike many of the booths, will be on hand 24 hours a day. As well as this, commission will not be charged by the machine operators.
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Flyers eyeing up Russian alternative

Flyers eyeing up Russian alternativeA new online flight booking site called Alternative Airlines has revealed that bookings for domestic flights to Russia has soared recently.

The site specialises in providing services to routes that tend to be ignored by other travel providers and it has reported a greater percentage of interest in Russia of late than previously anticipated.

Alternative Airlines managing director John Pope suggested that Russian aviation was "booming", with more western built aircraft being used by Russian carriers.
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Travellers warned over summer queues

Travellers warned over summer queuesMany of the UK's travellers looking to take to the skies this summer have been warned to expect chaos at Britain's busiest airports, as the government prioritises safety over convenience.
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New security measures 'to hit airlines hard'

New security measures 'to hit airlines hard'A number of European airlines could face significant extra costs in meeting new measures which require carriers to collect more passenger information.
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Airport security measures to 'delay' passengers

Airport security measures to 'delay' passengersMore vigilant passport security measures which are set to be used at a number of airports around the country could delay passengers' journey times over the summer period.

The Border and Immigration Agency (BIA) has introduced new passport laser scanning technology which will see security staff at airports read security holograms and other digital data.

A spokesperson for the BIA has said that more staff at border control have been taken on to help alleviate the consequences of the new system, designed to minimise forgery and fraud.

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US accessories firm plans Heathrow Airport store

US accessories firm plans Heathrow Airport storeUS accessories chain Coach has announced the grand opening of a new store in Heathrow Airport's Terminal Five building.

Coach sells modern classic American merchandise, which it claims is dedicated to the "sophisticated traveller".

BAA, which also runs Gatwick Airport and Stansted Airport in London, is set to begin operations from the new Terminal 5 in March 2008 and has been busy recently signing up top stores to enhance its offerings for flyers.
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UK flyers could soon be over the moon

UK flyers could soon be over the moonA European satellite building company with centres in Hertfordshire and Hampshire has designed a spaceship which will be able to take off and land from any airport.

Flyers could potentially use the spacecraft just like any regular aeroplane and jet off to the stars from places like Heathrow Airport or Gatwick Airport.

However, unlike the UK's wide choice of bargain flights, airport hotels and airport lounges, trips to space don't come cheap – a one and a half hour flight with three minutes of weightlessness costs £135,000.
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UK flyers set for mammoth sports weekend in the States

UK flyers set for mammoth sports weekend in the StatesThe UK's airports will be gearing up for some extra traffic this weekend, as two global sporting events kick off in the United States.

Britain's biggest airports, including Heathrow Airport and Gatwick Airport, will be on red alert as sports fans from all over Britain make the transatlantic trip for major golf event the US Open and the Indianapolis Formula One Grand Prix.

And UK fans will no doubt be roaring on a host of British stars aiming for glory in both events.
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Bank holidays boost May figures for BAA

Bank holidays boost May figures for BAABAA has revealed its traffic figures for last month and the airport operator will be encouraged by the statistics.

In total, BAA's seven UK airports handled 12.8 million passengers in May, which represented an increase of 0.3 per cent compared to May 2006.

It was the company's three Scottish airports which enjoyed the best growth for the month, with traffic up at Glasgow Airport, Edinburgh Airport and Stansted Airport by 3.7 per cent, 5.8 per cent and 9.9 per cent respectively.
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Gatwick Airport announces pick-up changes

Gatwick Airport announces pick-up changesGatwick Airport has announced that changes to vehicle access at the upper and lower forecourts of the South Terminal get underway next week.

Private vehicles picking up passengers from June 20th will be directed to short stay car park number 3 – with a £1 fee for 15 minutes also kicking in.

BAA Gatwick is also doubling the number of spaces to accommodate passenger drop-offs in the lower forecourt and a strict no waiting policy is in place.
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May proves to be a busy month for easyJet

May proves to be a busy month for easyJetLow-cost airline easyJet has revealed that passenger numbers were up last month, with the budget carrier reporting a 13.8 per cent gain in traffic.

The airline, which is based at Luton Airport, revealed that it carried 3.3 million passengers in May, compared with 2.9 million a year ago.

Revenue was also up by 15.2 per cent to £1.7 billion for the past 12 months ending in May.
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Festival season kicks off for music fans this weekend

Festival season kicks off for music fans this weekendThe UK's musical festival season is set to get underway this weekend, with the Isle of White and Download festivals kicking off tomorrow.

Heathrow Airport, Gatwick Airport and Stansted Airport will be preparing for an influx of music lovers from across Europe.

Nottingham/East Midlands Airport is also on red alert, as it near the Donington Park site in Leicestershire which stages Download.
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BAA launches new noise enquiry service

BAA launches new noise enquiry serviceAirport operator BAA has launched a new website for local residents surrounding its major London airports, offering information about the effects of aircraft noise.

The site will enable people who live near Heathrow Airport, Gatwick Airport and Stansted Airport to find out why they are hearing aircraft noise and allow them to make enquiries and register complaints online.

BAA is splashing out £1.8 million on upgrading its "noise and track keeping and complaints systems" at its London airports.
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Busy Gatwick prepares for the start of summer

Busy Gatwick prepares for the start of summerGatwick Airport is preparing itself for a busy bank holiday, with almost half a million flyers expected to pass through London's second busiest airport over the four-day break.

The Whitsun bank holiday is traditionally considered the beginning of summer and Gatwick Airport is anticipating 465,000 passengers to pass through its doors over the long weekend.

BAA is expecting Sunday to be the busiest day, with 119,000 passengers believed to be flying in and out of Gatwick Airport.
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Suspected bank thief caught at Gatwick Airport

Suspected bank thief caught at Gatwick AirportA woman who was suspected of stealing money from a bank where she worked has been caught at Gatwick Airport.

Sara Drage from Eastbourne went missing on the same day as the cash vanished from the safe at her Halifax workplace last week.

Police arrested 23-year-old Ms Drage at Gatwick Airport, following a Europe-wide search amid fears she had already left the country.
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Face recognition technology used at Gatwick Airport

The government's bid to tighten up Britain's borders and strengthen security at airports has received a boost, after an Iris Recognition Immigration System (IRIS) was opened at Gatwick Airport.

IRIS implements biometric technology, allowing flyers to look into a camera at an automated barrier where, if recognised, they can pass through.

Registered passengers will be able to enter the UK quickly and securely, as British airports continue to try and improve the flying experience for their passengers.
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Is this the end for the airport frisk?

Is this the end for the airport frisk?The end of the airport frisk may be on the horizon, after a transport security chief revealed plans to implement new body scanners at the UK's airports.

John Parkinson, head of aviation security at the Department for Transport's transport security section, suggested that airport protection needed to be updated.

He revealed at a Transport Committee meeting that body searches were "unpleasant" and that hi-tech body scanners could cut down the number of frisks.
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BA makes £900,000 UNICEF donation

BA makes £900,000 UNICEF donationBritish Airways (BA) strengthened its position as one of the UK's best loved brands recently, by raising £900,000 for children's charity UNICEF.

The airliner's Change for Good programme saw passengers donate money onboard BA aircraft, which will now support children affected by HIV in Ghana, Tanzania and Ukraine.

UNICEF, established in 1946, is a voluntary United Nations organisation providing long-term humanitarian assistance to children and the money raised by generous BA flyers will be equally divided between the three troubled regions.
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Croydon school wins airport design award

Croydon school wins airport design awardA group of pupils from a Croydon high school are celebrating after winning a national competition to design an airport adventure zone.

Four children from Selsdon High School scooped a £500 winner's cheque for their futuristic airport terminal.

BAA, the operator responsible for Heathrow Airport and Stansted Airport, ran the competition and gave the finalists a tour of Gatwick Airport as part of the prize.

Gatwick Airport is located in Crawley in Sussex and is the UK's second busiest airport, handling over 34 million flyers last year and the kids were also given a demonstration by PC Chris Murray on how explosives were located at the site.

Caroline Nicholls, BAA communities trust trustee and competition judge, told the Croydon Guardian: "A really amazing level of creativity and innovation was shown by students in developing their ideas and each team displayed a number of novel ideas."

The Selsdon group were awarded the most creative and best constructed adventure zone in the 12-18 age group.

Among the innovative designs by Kelly Bidwell, Jayland Cubitt, Carolanne Volp, Michaela Gregory and their teacher Alan Day were a 4-D cinema and a balloon lift.

The group dubbed themselves the Phoenix Experience and were handed a trophy constructed from aircraft equipment, as well as their prize money.
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Goody's mum in Gatwick flight stir

Goody's mum in Gatwick flight stirBig Brother star Jade Goody's mother Jackiey launched a foul tirade onboard a recent Thomson flight to Gatwick Airport.

The reality TV star's mum, who appeared alongside Jade on the last celebrity version of the show, is reported to have upset fellow flyers and verbally abused crew on a flight from Jamaica.

At one point staff warned Jackiey that the flight would have to be diverted to the nearest airport unless she calmed her actions.
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BA gives industry a lift in popularity stakes

BA gives industry a lift in popularity stakesThe aviation industry was given a massive lift this week, after British Airways (BA) was named in the top ten most popular brands in the UK.

In a survey conducted by Marketing magazine, BA was voted the sixth best-loved brand in Britain.

The results come as good news for the air travel industry, with growing environmental concerns often portraying an unfair, negative image of British aviation.
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Gatwick's £850m plan to cut congestion

Gatwick's £850m plan to cut congestionBAA has announced plans to cut congestion at Gatwick Airport with an £850 million budget.

The UK's second busiest airport is expected to see an increase in traffic by around 2.8 per cent each year and BAA said reducing congestion was a priority for the next decade.

Gatwick Airport is the busiest single runway airport in the world and features a host of convenient airport hotels and airport lounges for maximum passenger comfort.
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Flyglobespan reveals new UK - Canada links

Flyglobespan reveals new UK - Canada linksLow budget Scottish airline flyglobespan has announced new services from 13 UK and Ireland airports to three major Canadian cities.

Gatwick Airport, Stansted Airport, Manchester Airport and Glasgow Airport will service Toronto's Hamilton Airport, with Gatwick, Manchester and Glasgow also flying to Vancouver and Calgary.

Belfast International Airport, Birmingham Airport, Dublin International Airport, Edinburgh Airport, Liverpool Airport and Newcastle Airport will also offer weekly Toronto services.

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Gatwick gearing up for hectic bank holiday

Gatwick gearing up for hectic bank holidayGatwick Airport is gearing up for a busy spring bank holiday as flyers look to enjoy some time off overseas.

The four-day weekend period will see 350,000