London Gatwick airport has unveiled a £1 billion ($1.57 billion) investment plan under which it will expand and improve its North Terminal over the next three years.
The airport, which has been under independent ownership for five years, will spend £36 million on a new check-in area at the terminal. This will contain 60 self-service bag-drop units intended to "virtually eliminate queues", says Gatwick.
The new check-in area will open in two phases between late 2015 and early 2016. The extra space will boost peak check-in capacity to 4,350 passengers an hour from 3,000, says Gatwick.
A further £30 million will be spent on the terminal's new security area, scheduled to open in 2016, while a £21 million investment in a new departure lounge will create 30,000ft² (2,800m²) of new retail space.
A fully refurbished arrivals area will open next summer, and upgrades to the border zone and surrounding facilities are also planned.
Disclosure of the plan comes as Gatwick pushes to be selected over London Heathrow for the construction of an additional runway to increase the capital's airport capacity.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
