A £140 million development will see eight new aircraft gates open at Gatwick.
The extended mid-airfield Pier 6 is due to be completed in 2027, enabling 7.5 million passengers to alight and depart directly onto aircraft each year.
The new gates will also remove the need to bus more than 500,000 passengers to remote stands, saving 12,000 journeys a year.
The plan is part of a wider scheme to develop and grow the airport, including potential regular use of its stand-by runway after the government said it was “minded to approve” the project.
Airport chief technical officer Cedric Laurier said: “This build is complex as it’s right in the heart of our airfield, but we’re experienced in delivering major projects in challenging environments at London Gatwick.
“Once complete, more than seven million passengers will have a seamless airport experience, and our airlines will benefit from improved airfield efficiency as the extended pier is located conveniently beside the airport’s runway.”