Navigating Gatwick: Exploring The Airport's Efficient Gate System

Gatwick Airport, located near Crawley, West Sussex, is the second-busiest airport in the UK after Heathrow. It is divided into two terminals: the North Terminal and the South Terminal, which cover areas of 98,000 m2 and 160,000 m2, respectively. Together, the terminals have 65 gates, with the North Terminal having 31 gates and the South Terminal having 32.

Gatwick Airport has 65 total gates

The South Terminal was opened in 1958 and was one of the world's first airports with an enclosed pier-based terminal. This allowed passengers to walk indoors to waiting areas near the aircraft, with only a short distance outdoors. Another feature of Gatwick's new air terminal was its modular design, which allowed for subsequent expansion. As passenger numbers grew, a circular satellite pier was added to the terminal building.

The North Terminal was constructed in the 1980s and was the largest construction project in the south of England at the time. It cost £200 million to build. In 1991, a second aircraft pier was added to the North Terminal. In 2005, Pier 6 opened, adding 11 more pier-served aircraft stands. The North Terminal also has three gates capable of supporting the Airbus A380, the world's largest passenger aircraft.

Both terminals offer a range of facilities, including shops, restaurants, baby-changing and feeding facilities, and specialised lounges for business travellers. The terminals are connected by an automated people mover, providing easy transfer for passengers.

There are 32 gates with jet bridges in the South Terminal

Gatwick Airport has 32 gates with jet bridges in the South Terminal. This terminal covers an area of 160,000 m2 (1,700,000 sq ft; 190,000 sq yd). The official opening of the central pier of what is now the South Terminal, with 11 aircraft stands, was on 9 June 1958. Gatwick was one of the world's first airports with an enclosed pier-based terminal, allowing passengers to walk indoors to waiting areas near the aircraft. Another feature of Gatwick's new air terminal was its modular design, which allowed for subsequent, phased expansion.

As passenger numbers grew, a circular satellite pier was added to the terminal building. It was connected to the main terminal by the UK's first automated people mover system. This replaced the original North Pier dating from 1962; the people mover was subsequently replaced with a walkway and travelators. The South Terminal was temporarily closed from June 2020 to March 2022 due to the sharp decline in passenger traffic caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition to the 32 gates with jet bridges, the South Terminal also has seven remote gates. Overall, Gatwick Airport has 65 total gates across its two terminals. The other terminal, the North Terminal, has 31 gates with jet bridges, including three that can support the Airbus A380.

The North Terminal has 31 gates with jet bridges

Gatwick Airport has two terminals, the North Terminal and the South Terminal, which cover areas of 98,000 m2 and 160,000 m2 respectively. The North Terminal has 31 gates with jet bridges, including three that can support an Airbus A380. The construction of the North Terminal began in the 1980s on land previously earmarked for a second runway. It was the largest construction project south of London at the time, costing £200 million.

The North Terminal at Gatwick Airport first opened in the late 1980s and has since undergone several expansions and improvements. In 1991, a second aircraft pier was added to the terminal, increasing its capacity for departing and arriving flights. Over the years, the terminal has also undergone renovations to enhance its design and improve the overall passenger experience.

One notable expansion of the North Terminal was the addition of Pier 6 in 2005, which added 11 more pier-served aircraft stands to the terminal at a cost of £110 million. This new pier is connected to the main terminal building by a massive air passenger bridge, the second-largest in the world. This bridge spans the taxiway and provides passengers with a unique view of the airport and taxiing aircraft.

The North Terminal at Gatwick Airport is not just about efficiency and functionality; it also offers a range of amenities and services to ensure a pleasant journey for passengers. The terminal has a variety of shops and restaurants, both landside and airside, ensuring that travellers have access to food, beverages, and last-minute travel essentials. The terminal is also accessible to disabled passengers, with facilities such as baby-changing and feeding rooms, specialised lounges for business travellers, and multi-faith prayer and counselling rooms.

The North Terminal at Gatwick Airport is a bustling hub, serving millions of passengers each year. With its 31 gates equipped with jet bridges, it plays a crucial role in the smooth operation of the airport, ensuring efficient boarding and disembarkation processes for travellers from around the world.

The airport has two runways

Gatwick Airport has two runways. However, due to their proximity, the runways cannot be used simultaneously, so only one runway is operational at any given time. The airport operates as a single-runway facility, using a main runway that is 3,316 metres (10,879 ft) long. There is also a secondary runway, but it can only be utilised when the main runway is not in service.

The main runway, designated 08R/26L, has a Takeoff Run Available (TORA) of 3,255 metres when aircraft depart to the west (26) and 3,159 metres when they take off to the east (08). On the other hand, the secondary runway, 08L/26R, has a TORA of 2,565 metres in both directions. The majority of takeoffs from Gatwick Airport, approximately 74%, occur towards the west.

The two runways at Gatwick Airport are separated by a distance of 656 feet (200 metres), which is insufficient for concurrent operations. As a result, the northern runway often serves as a taxiway, aligning with its original purpose. However, it has been widened over time.

In recent years, there have been proposals to bring the standby runway into routine use to increase the airport's capacity. One scenario suggested using the northern runway (08L/26R) exclusively for departures of narrow-body aircraft, while the longer main runway (08R/26L) would accommodate wide-body take-offs and all landings. Widening the northern runway would also slightly increase the centreline separation between the two runways.

The airport has two terminals

Gatwick Airport has two terminals: the North Terminal and the South Terminal. The North Terminal covers an area of 98,000 square metres, while the South Terminal covers 160,000 square metres. Both terminals have shops and restaurants, and all areas are accessible to disabled passengers. There are also facilities for baby changing and feeding, as well as specialised lounges for business travellers.

The North and South Terminals are connected by a 0.75-mile-long, elevated, two-way automated people mover landside. However, they are not connected once passengers have passed through security.

The South Terminal has 32 gates with jet bridges and seven remote gates. It was officially opened in 1958, and it was one of the world's first airports with an enclosed pier-based terminal. A circular satellite pier was later added, connected to the main terminal by the UK's first automated people mover system.

The North Terminal, on the other hand, has 31 gates with jet bridges, including three that can support an Airbus A380. Construction began on the North Terminal in the 1980s and it was the largest construction project south of London at the time. The North Terminal also has two aircraft piers, with the second one added in 1991, and Pier 6 opened in 2005, adding 11 more pier-served aircraft stands.

Over the years, there have been proposals to rearrange the terminal assignments of airlines to improve operational efficiency and resilience. For example, EasyJet would consolidate all its Gatwick operations in the North Terminal, while British Airways and Virgin Atlantic would swap their terminals. These changes aim to reduce pressure on the North Terminal during peak times and provide more space for long-haul passengers in the South Terminal.

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