The new look North Terminal at Gatwick Airport has been opened by former Prime Minister Sir John Major KG CH, marking the successful completion of the 18-month project delivered by Morgan Sindall.

The North terminal has been extended to accommodate 20 million passengers per year by 2020.

The £73 million scheme is part of a £1.2 billion upgrade of Gatwick Airport. It features extension of the southern and eastern zones of the terminal to provide additional check-in and baggage reclaim capacity.

There are now 18 new check-in desks, bringing the total to 144, including 77 self-service kiosks. The four new reclaim belts - three for international flights and one for domestic - will significantly cut time spent waiting for luggage.


Stewart Wingate, Gatwick Airport Chief Executive said: "It's fair to say that passengers flying out of the North Terminal used to be greeted with a dated 80s feel with little aesthetic appeal and confusing way finding. But that was the Gatwick of yesteryear. Today, the layout and design of the upgraded forecourt, interchange facilities and the expanded terminal building provide a much more positive first impression.

"This is all part of our investment programme, which has a focus on improving the overall passenger experience of our airport, from the moment they arrive at the front door, check-in, pass through security to when they board their flight. We want passengers to spend as little time in queues or waiting for luggage as is possible, and we want them to enjoy their surroundings before they jet off for their holidays. That has been the focus of our work at the airport so far and there is still much more to come."

In July 2011 Morgan Sindall won a place on the construction framework that will implement the next wave of improvements at Gatwick that follow on from the North Terminal extension. This £1.2 billion programme of upgrades includes a broad range of major projects including new aircraft piers.

Morgan Sindall is competing with nine other contractors for the individual schemes over the four-year lifespan of the framework.

(CD)