EUROSTAR has started selling tickets at Gatwick after a number of people enquired about the cross-Channel service at the airport’s Travel Centre.
Research by the train operator showed demand from staff working there, nearby residents and incoming transatlanticpassengers.
A spokesman for Eurostar said: “It was very interesting news to us that Gatwick wanted to sell our product but airlines are very broad-minded about it and realise incoming customers from the US and Australia often arrive in London and want to go on to the continent quickly.
“A lot of train operators do sell Eurostar at main stations but Gatwick has not been included in that. International travellers like flexibility and Gatwick has said it has had a lot of enquiries about our product.”
Eurostar serves six destinations in Europe, including Paris and Brussels. The full range of its products are on sale at Gatwick’s Travel Centre.
Head of marketing at Gatwick Express Roy Campbell said: “It is a little odd but our staff have been telling us that people were asking for Eurostar tickets. We were having to turn them away, which is lost business.
“The Travel Centre is a full service selling all sorts of rail tickets and that should include Eurostar.
“There is also significant number of people who work at or live near the airport who will benefit from direct access to Eurostar tickets. It may seem somewhat ironic to introduce an international rail service facility into an airport but our research shows there is strong demand for leisure alternatives such as Eurostar.”
n Agents can now sell Eurostar’s two direct services to the Alps for winter 1999/2000. Overnight and daytime trips leave Waterloo International and Ashford on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings respectively for Moutiers. Aime la Plagne and Bourg St Maurice and corresponding return journeys leave on Saturday mornings and evenings.