Gatwick - Charge for vehicles using the North Terminal forecourt introduced this coming Monday (8 March), with South Terminal charge going live on 12 April.
Highlights:
* New revenue stream being introduced to help the airport preserve jobs and recover as a result of the significant effects of the Covid-19 pandemic
* Blue badge holders and staff employed on the airport campus will be exempt from the charge and can register at www.gatwickairport.com/dropoff
* Local commuters living in areas with limited public transport can also pay a GBP50 annual fee for two visits to the train station each day by also registering at www.gatwickairport.com/dropoff
* Free drop off or pick up will be available at the airport's long stay car park
As previously announced, a GBP5 charge for vehicles dropping off passengers directly outside Gatwick's North Terminal will be introduced this coming Monday (8 March). The charge will apply to all vehicles except for passengers holding a Blue Badge and staff employed on the airport campus, who can register for free access at www.gatwickairport.com/dropoff
The charge is being introduced as a new revenue stream to help protect the business and preserve jobs following the significant financial impact , a loss of GBP465.5m and over 40% of its workforce, the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the airport.
Anyone who does not wish to pay the charge will be able to drop-off or pick-up passengers in the airport's long-stay car parks with two hours free parking and a free shuttle bus to the terminal.
The charge will also be introduced at the South Terminal forecourt on 12 April, in preparation for the expected restart of international travel following the Government's COVID-19 roadmap.
Local commuters living in postcode sectors (RH6 0, RH6 9, RH11 0) with limited public transport access will be allowed two visits per day to use the train station by paying an annual GBP50 charge - after registering at www.gatwickairport.com/dropoff
The introduction of a drop off charge will also encourage more sustainable journeys to the airport - including use of Gatwick's strong public transport links - and may also reduce traffic congestion. Reducing the airport's environmental impact continues to be an important focus for the airport and Gatwick will contribute revenue generated from the drop off charge into the airport's existing Sustainable Transport Fund.
Jonathan Pollard, Chief Commercial Officer, Gatwick Airport, said: 'We recognise that a drop off charge is never going to be popular with some people, however given that we have just announced losses of GBP465 million and a reduction of more than 40% of our workforce in 2020, we have little choice but to explore new revenue streams to help us protect the remaining jobs.
'Equally, as we consider how to rebuild better, we hope this new scheme will also encourage passengers to consider more sustainable journeys to the airport, including using our excellent public transport facilities. A proportion of the revenue raised through the drop off charge will be used to support new sustainable transport initiatives, in addition to the investment in our new GBP150 million airport train station which is progressing well.'
The charge will be GBP5 for 10 minutes, and GBP1 for each additional minute up to 20 minutes. The maximum charge will be GBP25 and the maximum length of stay 30 mins.
People picking up passengers should continue to do so from the short stay car parks as it often takes more time to collect passengers. Short stay car park users are permitted a 30-minute stay for the same tariff (GBP5) as 10 minutes on the forecourts. Alternatively, passengers can be picked up in the long stay car parks where parking is free for up to two hours, using the free shuttle bus from the Terminal.
Charging and enforcement - including penalty notices - will be managed using convenient barrier free technology and Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras, operated by National Car Parks (EUK) Ltd.
Passengers can pay online using a range of payment methods including credit or debit card, Google and Apple Pay.
A Red Route system will be introduced across the airport campus to indicate that stopping to park, load or unload, board or alight from a vehicle is prohibited. Revenue raised through Red Route fines will also be used to fund sustainable transport initiatives under the guidance of the airport's Transport Forum Steering Group.
-->
About Gatwick Airport
Gatwick is the UK's second largest airport and flies a range of both short and long-haul point-to-point services. The airport is a vital piece of the UK's national infrastructure and is also a major driver for both the regional and national economies.
In 2019, a new long-term partnership was formed with VINCI Airports who purchased a 50.01% stake in the airport. This partnership saw Gatwick Airport integrate into the network of VINCI Airports, the leading private airport operator in the world, which manages the development and operation of 45 airports located in Brazil, Cambodia, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, France, Japan, Portugal, Serbia, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States. Served by more than 250 airlines, VINCI Airports' network handled 255 million passengers in 2019. Through its expertise as a comprehensive integrator, VINCI Airports develops, finances, builds and operates airports, leveraging its investment capability and know-how to optimise the management and performance of airports and carry out extensions and upgrades. In 2019, its annual revenue for managed activities amounted to EUR4.9 billion, for a consolidated revenue of EUR2.6 billion.
Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), which manages the remaining 49.99% interest in Gatwick, is an independent infrastructure investor that makes equity investments in high quality infrastructure assets in the energy, transport and water/waste sectors. GIP has US$68 billion of Assets under Management. Its 41 portfolio companies operate in over 51 countries with more than 67,000 employees and generate annual revenues of circa US$51 billion.
For more information on VINCI Airports please visit www.vinci-airports.com and for more information on GIP please visit http://global-infra.com
Media enquiries ONLY
Gatwick Airport Press Office
+44 (0) 1293 50 5000
gatwickmedia@gatwickairport.com
Main Gatwick switchboard:
+44 (0) 1293 50 7888
VINCI 
