Gatwick Airport has announced that its south terminal, which has been closed for nearly two years, will reopen in March to assist meet the predicted high demand this summer and beyond as confidence in international travel returns.
The news comes on the same day as pre-departure and post-arrival testing requirements for travellers arriving in the UK were eased significantly, with fully-vaccinated passengers and those under the age of 18 no longer being required to take tests.
Flights have been operating only from the north terminal since June 2020 to save on expenses, but activity will return to the south terminal from March 27th, as Gatwick enters what it anticipates to be a busy summer season.
British Airways has already confirmed that short-haul flights from Gatwick will resume on March 29th, with 35 new European destinations added.
Vueling will also expand its operations at Gatwick, with five additional short-haul routes and three aircraft based there.
Wizz Air will dramatically expand its operations from the airport with 18 new routes, while easyJet, Gatwick’s largest airline, has taken up additional slots and plans to operate their busiest flight schedule ever.
New York, Tampa, Bangkok, Phuket, Mauritius, Dubai, Doha, Islamabad, and a number of cities across Canada, the Caribbean, and Mexico, including Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Cancun, Antigua, and Montego Bay, are among the exciting long-haul flights available from Gatwick.
The increasing demand is also good news for the local job market, as Gatwick’s local towns are among the most hit by the pandemic’s effects in the country.
Gatwick and its partners – airlines, retailers, ground handlers, and so on – have been hiring for a while, and there are still over 2,000 positions open, including security officers, IT professionals, engineers, shop and restaurant staff, ground and cargo handlers, and cabin crew.
Gatwick Airport’s chief executive, Stewart Wingate, said: “After an incredibly challenging two years for the airport, our partners, local communities and the entire aviation industry, we are delighted to be reopening our South Terminal next month.
“Following some major announcements from our airlines about significantly increased flying schedules, and from Government on removing travel restrictions and airport slot regulations, we can now look forward to once again operating a busy Gatwick this summer and beyond.”
British Airways, Vueling, Wizz, Ryanair, Norwegian, Turkish Airlines, TAP, Eastern Airways, Aurigny, Aer Lingus, Air Baltic, Airmaltia, Air Europa, and Enter Air will all fly from the south terminal, while easyJet will fly from both the south and north terminals.
– India’s new age travel digital media
