Time-lapse footage has been released by Gatwick showing the transformation of a section of its North Terminal.
A total of £36 million is being spent to create a new departure level which will house the world’s largest self-service bag drop zone.
The first phase of this opened in October, with the second phase opening in April 2016.
Gatwick moved easyJet’s whole North Terminal operation into the new space so that its passengers can use the new bag-drop technology.
The installation is designed to reduce queues and speed passengers through airport formalities as quickly as possible.
The time-lapse footage shows the construction of the new space as well as the installation of a new escalator which carries passengers upstairs and through security to the departure lounge once they have checked their bags in.
The North Terminal transformation scheme is part of a £1 billion investment to drive growth from airport’s existing infrastructure, while it waits for a decision from the government on where a new runway for the southeast should be built.
Gatwick chief executive, Stewart Wingate, said: “Gatwick is about to reach the 40 million passenger mark – this is a decade ahead of industry predictions and we continue to grow.
“Our investment, growth, and success have been spurred on by competition in the airports market brought when we came into private ownership in 2009.
“A decision to expand Gatwick means the benefits of competition will spread even further and we will not return to the bad old days of monopoly.
“While we wait for a government decision on a new runway, we are investing billions to ensure we can grow from our existing infrastructure and continue to improve the passenger experience, but this will only take us so far.”
You can view the time-lapse footage here: http://mediacentre.gatwickairport.com/videos/15-10-30-north-terminal-transformation-time-lapse-film.aspx