Around 628,000 passengers look set to depart from Gatwick Airport over the next week as half term holidays are underway. Many are making the most of the school break with long-haul destination Orlando jumping into the half-term top ten this year, alongside city favourites Dublin and Amsterdam and hotspots such as Barcelona and Nice.
• Around 1,230,000 passengers to travel through Gatwick during half term week with around 628,000 set to depart
• Orlando jumps into top ten half term destinations while European breaks continue to prove popular
• Around 270,000 departing passengers expected across the bank holiday weekend
• From porters and pushchairs to airport entertainment, Gatwick’s family-friendly facilities and services help get breaks off to the best start
Many British passengers appear to be taking the full week off – and with the awful weather the UK is currently experiencing who can blame them! – with Sunday 1st June (the day before schools go back) set to be the busiest day in arrivals with around 68,000 passengers expected at the airport.
However, the bank holiday is also afforded the chance for many to take a shorter trip away. Around 503,000 passengers are predicted to have travelled through Gatwick between Friday 23rd May and Monday 26th May – of which around 270,000 are departures.
The top ten half-term destinations are:
1. Barcelona
2. Malaga
3. Palma De Mallorca
4. Nice
5. Faro
6. Alicante
7. Dublin
8. Amsterdam
9. Orlando
10. Dalaman
Gatwick is encouraging parents to make the most of the airport’s tailored family facilities to make the journey as easy as possible. On the back of passenger feedback, Gatwick has recently introduced free-of-charge pushchairs to help passengers with young children get from the plane to the arrivals hall with ease while kids’ zones are also on hand to help keep youngsters entertained.
Nick Pope, Terminal Duty Manager at London Gatwick, said: “Gatwick offers a choice of over 200 leisure and business destinations across the globe – more than any other London airport – as well as quick and easy access to and through the airport, so it’s no surprise we’re expecting plenty of passengers. We want the airport experience to mark a great start to any journey and we will be on hand to provide a warm welcome, great service and plenty of fun for the whole family throughout the airport.”
Highlights of Gatwick’s family facilities and half term activities include:
Pushchairs:
For families arriving into Gatwick, the airport has recently introduced free pushchairs for the journey between the plane and the arrivals hall where own pushchairs are returned.
Family Assistance Lanes:
Gatwick offers dedicated assistance security and immigration lanes for departing families to provide extra help and time.
Kids’ Zones:
Gatwick’s kids’ zones are the perfect place to keep children entertained whilst waiting for flights. The zones include a separate area for the kids to play and watch TV, plenty of seating for parents and are free of charge so make keeping an eye on the children that little bit easier. In North Terminal, parents can book into the new No.1 lounge that has separate family areas for the under 6’s, a games room and even a cinema for older children.
For more information on Gatwick Airport’s family offering please visit:
www.gatwickairport.com/at-the-airport/passenger-facilities/children/
© Gatwick Airport
