Gatwick Airport hires 400 new security staff to reduce security delays ahead of busy summer holiday period

Gatwick announces 400 new security staff starting ahead of the busy summer season and reveals top five hand luggage items rejected in scanner

London, UK, 2022-Jul-22 — /Travel PR News/ — After a busy few weeks, Gatwick Airport is working to reduce security delays ahead of the busy summer holiday period with more than 400 new security staff having started in recent weeks, with more still being recruited.

To further help make airport security a smooth process, Gatwick is urging passengers to prepare ahead of time by placing all liquids, creams, gels, balms and pastes in one resealable, transparent bag – separate to hand luggage – when going through airport security.

To help passengers prepare, the airport has also today (21/07/2022) revealed that the top five items’ passengers most frequently forget to remove from their hand luggage before security screening are toothpaste, Vaseline, cigarette lighters, inhalers, and hand sanitiser.

In recent weeks, around 10,000 hand luggage items going through the scanner are currently rejected and need to be searched every day – which adds an average of five minutes to the time taken to pass through security.  At peak times this can contribute to delays.

Since 2006, UK passengers have been required to place all liquids, creams, gels, balms and pastes up to a maximum of 100ml (with the exception of medication accompanied by a doctor’s note or prescription) in one resealable, transparent bag, separate to their hand luggage, as they travel through security.

More advice on airport security can be found on the Gatwick Airport website and, ahead of the school summer holidays, Gatwick has also today joined other VINCI Airports by promoting five simple travel tips on its social media channels for passengers ahead of busy summer period.  These include getting ready for airport security, keeping travel essentials handy, staying friendly to airport staff, and arriving at least two hours before the flight (see full version of travel tips below).

Gatwick’s recovery has seen the airport re-establish its extensive short-haul network to destinations across Europe and grow its long-haul network, which now serves 40 routes, including across the USA Canada and Asia.

The school summer holidays will see several million passengers travelling through Gatwick, with top short-haul destinations including Barcelona, Malaga and Dublin, and top long-haul routes including Dubai, Toronto and Orlando.

Adrian Witherow, Chief Operating Officer, Gatwick Airport said: “With passenger numbers rapidly returning to 2019 levels, we expect to be busy, particularly at peak times such as weekends and the forthcoming school summer holidays.

“We are doing everything possible to make the airport process as smooth as possible, including recruiting and training hundreds of new security staff, many of whom have already started or will be in coming weeks. It’s also important however that we do what we can to help passengers prepare for security before reaching the trays. We understand many already do this, but by publishing the list of top items that are currently being forgotten, we hope to get even more people through airport security quickly, so they can go on and relax ahead of their flight, enjoy a drink or sit down for a meal.”

Travel tips being promoted by Gatwick

1. Get Set For Security: Before reaching security, remove your laptop, tablet or similar electronic devices from your hand luggage to be inspected separately. Coats, jackets and belts should also be removed and remember, you can only take liquids in individual containers with a maximum capacity of 100ml on the plane. Each item should be removed from hand luggage and placed in a transparent, re-sealable plastic bag of not more than one litre capacity per passenger.
2. Check Travel Requirements: Double-check travel requirements to and from your chosen destination before you leave for the airport and make sure you have the correct documentation ready at check-in.
3. Arrive On Time: Passengers are advised to arrive at the airport as soon as check-in opens for their flight. Typically, this is 3 hours for long-haul and 2-2 ½ for short-haul
4. Keep Travel Essentials Handy: Make sure your tickets and boarding pass, travel insurance, driving licence, currency and credit cards are safe but easily accessible, carry a charger for your smartphone and have your airline information ready.
5. Let’s Stay Friendly & take it easy: Let’s always treat others how we would like to be treated. Our teams are really going to great lengths to make your airport experience as pleasant as possible. Please be mindful to interact with them with kindness and courtesy. We are at your entire disposal and here to help!

About Gatwick Airport

Gatwick is the UK’s second largest airport and flies a range of both short and long-haul point-to-point services. The airport is a vital piece of the UK’s national infrastructure and is also a major driver for both the regional and national economies. In 2019, a new long-term partnership was formed with VINCI Airports which purchased a 50.01% stake in the airport.

About VINCI Airports

The world’s leading private airport operator, VINCI Airports operates more than 50 airports in 11 countries in Europe, Asia and the Americas. Thanks to its expertise as a global integrator, VINCI Airports develops, finances, builds and manages airports by providing its investment capacity and its know-how in optimizing operational performance, modernizing infrastructures and managing their operations and environmental transition. VINCI Airports is the first airport operator to have committed to a global international environmental strategy in 2016, to achieve the goal of net zero emission across its entire network by 2050.

For more information:
www.vinci-airports.com
@VINCIAirports
https://www.linkedin.com/company/vinci-airports/

About Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP)

GIP manages the remaining 49.99% interest in Gatwick and is a leading independent infrastructure fund manager that makes equity and debt investments in high quality infrastructure assets in the energy, transport, water/waste and digital infrastructure sectors. GIP manages US$84 billion for its investors. Its 46 portfolio companies have combined annual revenues of US$61 billion and employ nearly 100,000 employees. For more information on GIP please visit http://global-infra.com

Media enquiries to:

GATWICK AIRPORT PRESS OFFICE
+ 44 (0) 1293 505000
gatwickmedia@gatwickairport.com

Main Gatwick switchboard:

+44 (0) 1293 50 7888

Source: Gatwick Airport

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