Gatwick is to expand facilities in the largest single investment as part of a continued bid to transform the airport.
Construction firm Bechtel has been appointed to more than double the size of Pier 6 in the North Terminal in a “complex” £180 million project.
Construction will begin once two major enabling projects are completed:
• Moving the stand for Airbus A380 double decker aircraft from Pier 6 to a newly created stand on Pier 5
• Widening and re-aligning a taxiway to enable A380s to move between the runway and the new stand to accommodate its 80 metre wing-span
Work is due to start in 2018 over four phases including a western extension of Pier 6 to be operational by the first quarter of 2022.
Gatwick is more than half way through a £2.7 billion improvement programme which has seen re-development of the North Terminal, and the newly constructed Pier 1, as well as major works on Pier 5 to create a second level.
Gatwick construction director Raymond Melee said: “This is one of the most important programmes of work we have in our current capital investment programme as it will give a crucial boost to our operational efficiency and help us to grow sustainably.
“It will be complex, as it is right in the heart of our airfield, but we are experienced in delivering complicated projects in challenging environments at Gatwick.”
Bechtel UK managing director Paul Gibbs said: “We know that construction in the middle of a very busy airfield can be complex, so we will be working alongside Gatwick’s operational teams to ensure the work is sequenced carefully and that the passenger experience is maintained throughout”