Major UK airport reveals £250million renovation – and it will make getting to your flight so much easier | The Sun
A UK airport has revealed its multi-million pound renovation which is set to open to the public this month.
Passengers travelling to and from Gatwick Airport will find it much easier to get to their flight.
The £250million upgrade started in 2020, due to concerns of overcrowding on the platforms.
This also led to congestion using the escalators – so any passengers running late for their flight would find themselves stuck in long queues to get to the terminal.
The works include a new concourse above the platforms the size of eight tennis courts, and a new airport entrance, doubling the space for passengers.
Eight new escalators, five new lifts and four new stairways have also been created along with new information screens.
Read more on UK airports
TAKING OFF
UK airport reveals huge £100million renovation – with faster security checks
SKY HIGH
The small UK airport named best in the world – with 30 new flight routes
Not only will it ease crowds, but track upgrades will also improve train journey times, being five minutes quicker between London and the airport.
The renovations were due to the station no longer capable of handling the passenger numbers travelling to and from the airport.
More than 21 million people used the train station in 2019, which Network Rail said was more than the capacity it was created for.
Network Rail's Sussex route director Lucy McAuliffe said: "The existing airport station was never designed for the growth and the demand of over 20 million passengers year using it.
Most read in Travel
NO FUN
Major theme park loved by Brits shuts down ALL attractions after major power outage
GO SEA IT
European city where Santa’s buried has shorts weather in December and 90p beers
YULE BE MISSED
UK’s oldest Christmas market has been scrapped this year
PITCH IN
Family-run holiday park right next to the beach named the best in the UK
"So what we've done is really invested in transforming the passenger experience here at the airport station, in order to unlock capacity, reduce congestion and just overall enhance passenger experience."
Gatwick Airport's CCO Jonathan Pollard said the changes would "dramatically improve" the experience for passengers.
The upgraded station will reopen to passengers from November 21.
It's not the only UK airport to undergo a huge renovation project.
Leeds Bradford Airport has confirmed plans for an £100million upgrade project which includes a three-storey extension to the terminal, with more seating, restaurants and shops.
There will also be a larger baggage claim area and immigration hall.
The works are hoped to be finished by 2026.
And some UK airports are hoping to reopen after closing down years ago.
Manston Airport in Kent, which first opened in 1916, closed in 2014, but could soon reopen.
Despite being closed to the public, it has been used as a lorry park as well as a filming location for James Bond and Empire of Light.
Read More on The Sun
GET THEM IN
I'm A Celeb official line-up as Nigel Farage and Britney's sis head into jungle
CLOSING TIME
Major DIY homeware chain to shut store doors permanently before Christmas
Plymouth Airport, which closed back in 2011, hopes to relaunch flights.
And Doncaster Sheffield Airport, which closed back in November 2022, hopes to be able to reopen too.
Source: Read Full Article