London Gatwick airport is likely to gain approval from local government next week to begin modifications to its North Terminal to allow pier-served access to Airbus A380 aircraft.
The airport submitted consultative documents to Crawley borough council on 12 January detailing the changes it is planning to make to two non-pier-served "push and hold" positions - stands 125 and 110 - at the western end of pier 6.
Owing to the nature of the development, Gatwick does not need planning permission but the council could still raise an objection.
However, planning officials indicate they are likely to rubber-stamp the proposal next week.
The pier comprises mostly ICAO Code C stands for Airbus A320- and Boeing 737-sized aircraft and is connected to the North Terminal via a high-level link bridge over taxiway L.
Gatwick's plan sees the two stands merged into a single Code F position with the provision of two air bridges, with the possibility of adding a third at a later date.
Although the A380 is permitted to land at Gatwick following a 2010 decision, at present the type can only be disembarked at two remote, non-pier-served stands in the north-west of the airport.
In its consultation document, the airport says: "A380 aircraft are expected to serve Gatwick in the near future and hence the proposed development will ensure this can happen in a way that provides passengers with pier service."
The airport operator hopes that A380 operators will begin using the airport from summer 2013.
Separately, Gatwick has submitted a planning application to redevelop pier 1, the airport's oldest, at its South Terminal and extend and upgrade the terminal's departures baggage system. A decision on the proposal is expected in the next two months.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
