Gatwick Airport awards largest construction contract to transform its oldest pier

Gatwick Airport has awarded a significant contract to Vinci Construction to transform Pier 1 in the South Terminal. At a cost of £183.9 million, this project is Gatwick’s largest capital investment since the change of ownership nearly three years ago. It is also a historic milestone for Gatwick as the pier is one of the oldest in South Terminal, first opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1958.

The project will involve the demolition of the existing Pier 1 in the New Year to make way for the new building. Due to be opened in summer 2015, the new building will house a new baggage system and new gate-rooms for passengers, and will be linked to five new aircraft stands by air-bridges. The project will also encompass taxi-way improvements on the airfield.

The new two-storey building, designed with the passenger in mind at every step, will enable them to find their way more easily and will offer facilities to cater for their needs, including new seating and child-friendly zones.

Hidden at the heart of the building will be a new baggage system that will not only allow bags to be processed faster and enable airlines the opportunity to use automated fast-bag drops.

It will also allow greater flexibility to process bags through the new system from any check-in desk. Additionally, an automated bag store – a first for Gatwick – will give airlines the ability to offer ‘day before’ check-in.

The first phase of the project is already well underway and will see a new Hold Baggage Screening (HBS) system for South Terminal in October 2012. This will allow passengers’ bags to be checked in at any one of the nine check-in zones and sent to any area of the existing and new baggage handling system.

Ben Green, Head of Piers and Infrastructure at Gatwick Airport, said: “Over the last two years we have been transforming Gatwick, both in the service we provide and structurally to become London’s airport of choice.

This project is our boldest step yet and we are delighted that Vinci Construction is on board. With extensive experience of working in airfield environments, they will help drive efficiency and quality as we work hard to safely deliver a dynamic new building.”

Jason Griffiths, Regional Director at VINCI Construction UK’s Air Division: “We are delighted to have been appointed to deliver this prestigious project for Gatwick Airport. Our extensive expertise in air infrastructure will ensure we can work closely with Gatwick Airport to complete the complex works within a live operational environment and to the highest standards of safety and quality.”

Plenty of progress has already been made at Gatwick’s South Terminal, including a new entrance and drop off zone for passengers arriving by car, new state-of-the-art security facilities, brighter and more open check-in and arrivals areas, extended departure lounges and improved waiting areas.