Gatwick Airport opens next-generation security area in North Terminal

Gatwick’s new security area forms part of the North Terminal transformation programme, and follows the implementation of the technology in the South Terminal.

Gatwick Airport ‘Next Generation’ security lanes

The £36 million investment has enabled the installation of ‘Next Generation’ security lanes which are designed to halve the time it takes passengers to pass through security, while maintaining the strictest security measures. The new technology will allow Gatwick to screen up to 5,000 passengers per hour.

Phase One of the project was completed in February this year, with five new security lanes, and the final phase is now complete as a further five lanes are open for passengers to use. Each lane has seven ‘loading points’, reducing queue times and increasing the number of passengers able to prepare their belongings for the screening process at any one time. There are also dedicated lanes for premium travellers, families and passengers with reduced mobility.

On entrance to the security area, passengers will now pass through a set of 17 new e-gates, which will also help to reduce the build-up of queues and speed up the process of passing through security.   

The new security will handle the 40 million passengers per year that now travel via Gatwick. The airport continues to highlight its need to expand given that passenger numbers were not expected to reach this figure for another ten years.

Peter Lederer, Head of Security at Gatwick, said:  “This state-of-the-art facility is the culmination of several years of planning and development and provides us with some of the most sophisticated airport security measures in the world.

“Direct feedback from both security staff and passengers was taken on board when designing the technology to ensure it provides the safest and most efficient experience possible. This facility will ensure we are able to screen 95 per cent of our passengers through security within five minutes.”

Chris Woodroofe, Head of Passenger Operations at Gatwick, said: “The transformation we have made to the security facilities in the North Terminal is yet another example of how Gatwick can accommodate increasing numbers of passengers from its existing infrastructure.

“We have created an environment which allows passengers to take charge of their journey through the airport and spend more time in the way they want – doing some work, having a bite to eat and enjoying the retail offering here at Gatwick.”

Behind the complex operations of a working terminal building, a 24/7 construction site has been managed with major projects being carried out with minimal disruption to the 150,000 passengers who pass through Gatwick’s terminal buildings every day.

Furthermore, Gatwick recently opened the world’s largest self-service bag drop zone, allowing passengers to check-in, drop off their bag and be on their way in less than two minutes.