Latest news from Gatwick

Following a year of record growth, Gatwick has been officially recognised as a carbon neutral airport through its use of 100% renewable electricity and Gold Standard carbon credits to offset ground fuel emissions.  The award, from ACI Europe, means that Gatwick Airport Ltd completed Airport Carbon Accreditation at Level 3+ in 2016 for all ground operation emissions that the airport controls – including fuels, electricity and business travel - having achieved Level 3 for the preceding three years. 

Hot off the press is our  Decade of Change report for 2016 which tracks our progress against ten ambitious environmental and community-focused priorities from 2010 to 2020.  This year’s Decade of Change report also highlights a range of innovations that have helped Gatwick to grow more sustainably, including building a new world-leading waste processing plant,  working with our partner Airport Taxis to bring Tesla electric taxis to Gatwick, becoming the UK’s first Autism-Friendly Airport and establishing the Noise Management Board to examine ways to alleviate problems communities experience in relation to noise. 

We have had perfect weather for ‘Gatwick Goes Wild’ this week – and it’s not too late to get involved.  We have an active biodiversity programme which includes managing 75 hectares of thriving woodlands, grasslands and wetlands, inhabited by hundreds of species of mammals, insects and bees, many of which are rare or protected – this week’s activities offer an opportunity to get closer to this local wildlife. ‘Gatwick Goes Wild’ is running from Monday 29 May to Monday 5 June. Spaces for each event will be allocated on a first come, first served basis and all children must be accompanied by an adult. To book a space on any of the sessions, please email rachel.bicker@gatwickairport.com.

Around 2000 beacons have been installed across Gatwick Airport’s two terminals providing an indoor navigation system that is much more reliable than GPS and that enables augmented reality wayfinding for passengers – a world first for an airport.  The lack of satellite signals makes road-based navigation systems – such as Google or Apple maps – unreliable indoors, so Gatwick has deployed a beacon based positioning system to enable reliable ‘blue dot’ on indoor maps, which in time can be used within a range of mobile airport, airline or third party apps.

 

On the first anniversary of Gatwick’s award winning Hidden Disability Lanyard service, the airport can also announce that it has purchased an Eagle Hoist 4 – a passenger lifting facility that provides safer and more respectful transfer for wheelchair users requiring full assistance to their aircraft seat.  The airport is also investing in two specialist hoist assisted toilet facilities in the next 12 months, each with a height adjustable adult sized changing bench, for people with learning and physical disabilities who may need extra equipment and space to use toilets safely, comfortably and with dignity.