Last month, Gatwick Airport opened a new £2 million airline lounge style area in its North Terminal for passengers who require special assistance – one of the biggest of its kind in any European airport.
The opening seemed to demonstrate an airport dedicated to accessibility and emphasising the breadth of good passenger experience: catering for all passengers.
The area has been designed with a premium lounge feel, providing bespoke chairs and soft furnishings to provide a quiet, calm environment for passengers to relax in before their flight.
Situated next to the North Terminal’s Departure Lounge, the new area is easy to access, once passengers has passed through the special assistance security lanes, and has capacity to seat up to 90 people – more than double the existing area size.
The 56 square metre site also has a dedicated reception area with hearing induction loops, water fountain and toilet facilities, as well as a number of charging points for passenger transport vehicles and personal electronic devices.
The LED energy efficient lighting can also be remotely controlled to operate at different levels of brightness across the area, dependent on the preference or needs of the passengers.
The airport noted that around 7% of the UK population does not travel because of a disability.
Gatwick Airport’s Head of Terminal Operations, Andy Pule, said:
“We are delighted to open this new area for passengers who require special assistance and have taken great care to ensure the facility offers a premium style feel while also meeting the needs of our passengers.
“Gatwick is committed to providing passengers who have a disability or reduced mobility of any kind with the support and services required to ensure their time at the airport is as comfortable as possible and this remains a key area of focus for the airport.”
Mark Hicks Director, Airport Operations for Wilson James Ltd, Gatwick Airport’s Passenger Services provider, said:
“The new special assistance area in the North Terminal is a demonstration of the commitment across the Gatwick community to providing a positive service experience for passengers requiring assistance while traveling”.
