Gatwick Airport to Reopen South Terminal After Two-Year Hiatus

By Anthony O. Goriainoff

London's Gatwick Airport said on Friday that its South Terminal will reopen on March 27 after being closed for almost two years.

The airport said that it was undertaking this move to help meet summer 2022's expected strong demand as British Airways' short-haul routes return and Vueling, easyJet and Wizz Air increase operations. Both BA and Vueling are part of International Consolidated Airlines Group S.A.

Gatwick reported that BA has announced it will restart its short-haul services from Gatwick from March 29 with 35 new routes, and that Vueling is adding five new short-haul routes.

EasyJet--the airport's biggest airline and which operates at both the North and South terminals--has taken up more slots and plans its busiest flying schedule ever, Gatwick said.

Wizz Air will also increase its operations with 18 new routes.

Gatwick Airport said the increase in demand was also positive for the local job market and that it and its partners have been recruiting for some time, with over 2,000 jobs still available.

"It may however take time for consumer confidence to fully recover, so I urge government to make 2022 the year when all travel restrictions are removed, including the unpopular passenger locator form and other remaining barriers to free travel," Chief Executive Stewart Wingate said.

Write to Anthony O. Goriainoff at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

February 11, 2022 06:55 ET (11:55 GMT)

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