Gatwick airports attempt to become the airport of choice for families appears to be paying off as figures show a 10% rise in family bookings. The airport has been making an effort to become more child friendly when it joined the family friendly institute earlier this year.
Such measures included games for children and reduced retail prices in the terminals. This would seem to have paid off as an estimated 7000 children meals will be served on British Airways flights flying out of Gatwick through July and August.
The youngsters will be given a Padddington Bear skyflyer pack to keep them busy during the flight. Gatwick Chief Exec Stewart Wingate commented the airport was going out of its way to make the journey through the airport more enjoyable.
Showing posts with label Gatwick airport news. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gatwick airport news. Show all posts
Monday, 1 August 2011
Friday, 3 December 2010
Gatwick Re-Opens This Morning
All UK airports are open this morning after the snow eased yesterday allowing the likes of Gatwick and Edinburgh airport to open this morning. Staff worked through the night to clear the snow from the runways and taxi ranks at Gatwick allowing it to open.
However travellers have been warned it will take 2-3 days to clear the backlog from the previous 2 days of closure. Heathrow airport which has stayed open throughout also warned its customers of potential delays.
Overnight temperatures saw Aberdeen drop to -20°C while London and the midlands was still a chilly -7°C. Train services across the county continued to be hampered by the treacherous conditions with Euro Star announcing reduced services and Southern rail firms cancelling its service.
Police are still advising motorists not to travel unless absolutely necessary.
However travellers have been warned it will take 2-3 days to clear the backlog from the previous 2 days of closure. Heathrow airport which has stayed open throughout also warned its customers of potential delays.
Overnight temperatures saw Aberdeen drop to -20°C while London and the midlands was still a chilly -7°C. Train services across the county continued to be hampered by the treacherous conditions with Euro Star announcing reduced services and Southern rail firms cancelling its service.
Police are still advising motorists not to travel unless absolutely necessary.
Thursday, 2 December 2010
Gatwick Shut For A Second Day
Further lashings of snow throughout yesterday and last night have left Gatwick airport closed until tomorrow morning at the earliest and Edinburgh airport closed until 4pm. Southampton airport is also closed due to health and safety fears.
The weather has also caused delays at the majority of the other surrounding UK airports. Heathrow, Newcastle, Glasgow, Robin Hood, Aberdeen and London City airport are all operating this morning but have advised travellers to expect delays after a knock on effect will be felt from other closed airports.
Gatwick bosses described how they drafted in extra workers to clear the runways but the snow was settling faster than they could clear it. The decision was made as it became clear the runway was unsafe for aircraft to land or take off.
The weather has also caused delays at the majority of the other surrounding UK airports. Heathrow, Newcastle, Glasgow, Robin Hood, Aberdeen and London City airport are all operating this morning but have advised travellers to expect delays after a knock on effect will be felt from other closed airports.
Gatwick bosses described how they drafted in extra workers to clear the runways but the snow was settling faster than they could clear it. The decision was made as it became clear the runway was unsafe for aircraft to land or take off.
Tuesday, 30 November 2010
Gatwick Parking Price Hike
Gatwick airport has been slammed for the massive price hike in its airport parking prices. The criticism comes just a week after it received much praise in improving customer relations via reducing queuing times and providing a much more efficient service.
However the prices for a week’s parking have nearly doubled which has enraged travellers and brought bad press to the airport. BAA was forced to sell Gatwick last year to break up the monopoly it had in the UK.
This was meant to mean cheaper prices for customers, unlike other Uk airports such as Manchester airport and East Midlands airport, which have both reduced their prices for airport car parking, Gatwick have raised theirs by 70%.
This was defended by a Gatwick spokeswoman, who went on to admit they had raised their prices to ensure there was space for their customers and put off people who had no intention of using the airport from using the car parks. She also said savings could be made if customers booked in advance.
However the prices for a week’s parking have nearly doubled which has enraged travellers and brought bad press to the airport. BAA was forced to sell Gatwick last year to break up the monopoly it had in the UK.
This was meant to mean cheaper prices for customers, unlike other Uk airports such as Manchester airport and East Midlands airport, which have both reduced their prices for airport car parking, Gatwick have raised theirs by 70%.
This was defended by a Gatwick spokeswoman, who went on to admit they had raised their prices to ensure there was space for their customers and put off people who had no intention of using the airport from using the car parks. She also said savings could be made if customers booked in advance.
Wednesday, 21 July 2010
Gatwick Plans For 2012 Olympics
Plans of how Gatwick is preparing for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games are expected to be discussed at the airport next week. The Gatwick Airport Consultative Committee (GATCOM) will be meeting in the Ascot Suite in the Hilton Hotel on Thursday 22nd July at 2pm.
The public are welcome and there will be a varied agenda, including a discussion on pollution levels, which are reportedly coming down, and the air traffic over Horley. A spokesman for the committee stated that there would almost probably discussions concerning the Airports' investment programme.
Travellers passing through Gatwick can now enjoy its new state-of-the-art inter-terminal shuttle - two months ahead of schedule and in time for the four million passengers that are expected to travel through the summer months.
GATCOM is also expected to hear more about the new coalition Government’s stance on the industry, after ruling out the possibility of extra runways. A Task Force to look at airports in the South East was recently announced and GATCOM is waiting to see its terms of reference.
GATCOM is made up of 28 appointed representatives who collectively have a wide knowledge of relevant subjects including local authorities, civil aviation, community and environmental groups.
A Government representative is also present at the main GATCOM meetings, together with Gatwick Airport’s managing director and the senior management team.
The role of GATCOM includes building interest, communication and understanding between the airport and everyone who uses it.
The public are welcome and there will be a varied agenda, including a discussion on pollution levels, which are reportedly coming down, and the air traffic over Horley. A spokesman for the committee stated that there would almost probably discussions concerning the Airports' investment programme.
Travellers passing through Gatwick can now enjoy its new state-of-the-art inter-terminal shuttle - two months ahead of schedule and in time for the four million passengers that are expected to travel through the summer months.
GATCOM is also expected to hear more about the new coalition Government’s stance on the industry, after ruling out the possibility of extra runways. A Task Force to look at airports in the South East was recently announced and GATCOM is waiting to see its terms of reference.
GATCOM is made up of 28 appointed representatives who collectively have a wide knowledge of relevant subjects including local authorities, civil aviation, community and environmental groups.
A Government representative is also present at the main GATCOM meetings, together with Gatwick Airport’s managing director and the senior management team.
The role of GATCOM includes building interest, communication and understanding between the airport and everyone who uses it.
Tuesday, 27 April 2010
Iraqi airliner welcomed at Gatwick
An Iraqi airline touched down at Gatwick this week for the first time in 20 years the Boeing 737-400 would have arrived a week earlier had it not been for the volcanic ash cloud. A scheduled flight from Baghdad to London has not taken place since 1990.
Iraqi Airways who carried out the historic flight gained the rights to revive the service that had been ended due to military events and UN sanctions, although the flight did make a short security stop there are plans to make it a direct flight that will run twice weekly on a Sunday and Wednesday.
The director of civil aviation in Iraq said although he was happy about the proposed new service and success of the initial flight, but had Western Europe been more cooperative the flights would have taken place much sooner.
Iraqi Airways who carried out the historic flight gained the rights to revive the service that had been ended due to military events and UN sanctions, although the flight did make a short security stop there are plans to make it a direct flight that will run twice weekly on a Sunday and Wednesday.
The director of civil aviation in Iraq said although he was happy about the proposed new service and success of the initial flight, but had Western Europe been more cooperative the flights would have taken place much sooner.
Tuesday, 26 January 2010
Airports should have done better?
The boss of Easyjet Andy Harrison has blasted airports including Gatwick, Madrid and Milan for not preparing properly for the recent bad weather that grounded hundreds of flights at the beggining of the year.
Easyjet has annonuced a bill of around £16 million due to cancellations and having to put passengers up in airport hotels with Harrison blaming the airports saying "they should have done more" to ensure the airports remained operational.
However despite Easyjets losses of £16 million they are expected to announce profits of £165 million thanks to cutting their fuel bill by £100 million and raking cash via baggage charges and car hire.
Easyjet has annonuced a bill of around £16 million due to cancellations and having to put passengers up in airport hotels with Harrison blaming the airports saying "they should have done more" to ensure the airports remained operational.
However despite Easyjets losses of £16 million they are expected to announce profits of £165 million thanks to cutting their fuel bill by £100 million and raking cash via baggage charges and car hire.
Wednesday, 13 January 2010
More Snow Brings More Delays At The Airports
Fresh snowfalls overnight have brought more disruptions to Uk travellers and airports with the South and South West being the worst affeceted, runways at Gatwick, London City, Birmingham International, Southampton and Cardiff airports have been suspended after a morning of heavy snowfall with Gatwick due to re-open at 15.00 today, after earlier cancelling 34 flights.
Heathrow Airport has reported the cancellation of 84 mostly short-haul or domestic flights. Luton has also cancelled a total of 15 flights. Budget airline EasyJet said it had cancelled more than 70 flights, from airports including Gatwick, Bristol, Belfast, Newcastle and Luton.
British Airways has warned of more flight disruption being on the cards as the Uk trys to deal with some of the worst snowfall seen in 20 years.
Heathrow Airport has reported the cancellation of 84 mostly short-haul or domestic flights. Luton has also cancelled a total of 15 flights. Budget airline EasyJet said it had cancelled more than 70 flights, from airports including Gatwick, Bristol, Belfast, Newcastle and Luton.
British Airways has warned of more flight disruption being on the cards as the Uk trys to deal with some of the worst snowfall seen in 20 years.
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