London Gatwick Airport has unveiled a series of dual-runway designs by Farrells, a London-based architectural firm established by Sir Terry Farrell, that demonstrate how the airport would look in 2025 following the construction of a second runway.
In the animation, London Gatwick is depicted as being the world’s most efficient two-runway airport with passengers reaching the boarding gates just 30 minutes after arriving at the airport. Other improvements such as self-service bag drops and electronic security gates are shown to completely eliminate queues.
Farrell said, “Farrell’s has designed what Skytrax has twice voted the best airport in world, and has been involved in many more, but we’ve raised the bar yet higher with our elegant master plan to make Gatwick the world’s most efficient two runway airport.
“The new terminal will be simple and convenient to use with few changes of level. The airfield itself would also offer the shortest taxiing distances possible with the new apron sitting between, and in close-proximity to, both the existing and new runways.”
London Gatwick also claims that the close-proximity of a second runway would allow the airport to match the world’s quickest aircraft turnaround times. Passengers would be able to connect with flights from the same terminal in 30 minutes, and from a different terminal in just 45 minutes.
Stewart Wingate, CEO for Gatwick Airport, said, “An expanded Gatwick can be delivered quickly and at no additional cost to the taxpayer so the UK can reap the economic benefits of expansion sooner. The way we travel is changing fast and we have to change with it – only Gatwick can cater for all passengers, traveling to any destination, with any airline type, now and into the future.
“Our plan recognizes that traditional methods of transferring are in decline with many passengers exploiting new options to ‘self-connect’ between a mix of low cost short and medium haul, charter and long haul flights depending on their budget and needs.”
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