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Gatwick development plans
London Gatwick has today unveiled its new brand identity, and more of interest, has announced its plans for improving the airport. These include a focus on delivering a personalised experience to meet passengers’ individual needs. The airport also plans to invest in simplifying the journey through the airport to allow passengers more time to shop, have a drink, or finish some last-minute work calls or emails.
This will be achieved with a multi-million pound development programme which includes the expansion and refurbishment of departure lounges to create more modern spaces for passengers while at the same time considering the airport’s sustainability goals. This is welcome news as some parts of Gatwick look pretty dire, which is a shame as the BA lounges there are very good compared to Heathrow.
It will also focus on accelerating automation in check-in and boarding, as well as enhanced airfield technology. A multi-million-pound upgrade of Gatwick Airport railway station is also on-track for completion later this year.
Sounds like Heathrow better watch it’s back!
Jonathan Pollard, Chief Commercial Officer, London Gatwick said: “This is a perfect time for us to launch our new brand and refreshed vision, as we head into our second year of recovery from the global pandemic and look to embark on a very promising chapter of growth.
“We are taking a multi-dimensional approach, combining investment in airport development, along with a new visual identity, to rejuvenate the image of London Gatwick. We expect this will translate to more people choosing to fly from the airport, with even more exciting destinations for passengers.
“Our previous brand served us well for over 10 years, but it’s now the right time to modernise and update our airport. As we look ahead to future growth, our refreshed brand celebrates the past and brings us into the future.”
JFK disruption
If you are heading to JFK, there will be major disruption from next month for the next few years with improvement works. Most of it won’t affect you if you are flying Oneworld, as most of the work is around terminals 1 and 5. However, there could be a knock-on effect on the already horrendous traffic to the airport, so I would definitely monitor the traffic and add extra time. Or consider taking Blade.
If you are flying JetBlue it is likely you will be affected since they use terminal 5. The airport will also be changing the taxi and rideshare pickups. The taxi stand at Terminal 5 is being relocated to the ground level of the Yellow Garage, which is attached to Terminal 5 by a covered bridge. In the next month or so, Uber etc will be moving to the roof of the Orange Garage, next to Terminal 7.
Save £100 on Virgin Atlantic Upper Class (plus DL, KLM, AF)
Virgin Atlantic has launched a new offer for £100 off when you use code US100. The offer starts on 28 April until 1 May on all routes from London and Manchester to the US. There is no restriction on travel dates. You can also use it for Delta, Air France or KLM flights via Amsterdam or Paris.
Book via virginatlantic.com
New destination for Virgin Atlantic?
On Twitter today, aviation analyst @MZulqarnainbut1 announced that Virgin would be launching a new destination with Bengaluru in India. I’m guessing this will be a mainly business and friends and family route, with the city being the centre of India’s high-tech industry,.This is yet to be confirmed by Virgin, so watch this space.
3 comments
OMG, LGW think it’s important to give people more time to shop in the airport. Like anyone needs that. There are many things that would improve airport experiences but more shopping certainly isn’t one of them and it doesn’t improve flying either as people who have shopped attempt to bring aboard even more than the excessive amount of hand luggage they already had.
As a frequent BA frequent flyer, LGW is by far my preferred airport. I can get from train to lounge in under 10mins on most occasions, whilst LHR is around double that (but can be much longer even via first wing). Any “improvement” to LGW would most likely slow down my train to lounge times (as they remove options to bypass the shops)… therefore not really an improvement from my perspective. I will say that if you are not a FF, then Gatwick is dire.. none of my family understand why i will always book LGW over LHR, they love the LHR shops and the err glamour of it being BAs primary hub.. but just compare LGW BA lounges its easy to see why i prefer LGW.. and long may it stay under developed.
b
Totally agree on the BA lounges at Gatwick.
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