Gatwick Airport puts its new eight million pound snow fleet into action

Notes to Editors

• Gatwick’s snow clearing kit consists of 98 vehicles including snow ploughs, brushes, cutters, blowers and de-icing vehicles as well as tractors and other small plant equipment.
• £8 million has been invested in new snow equipment since 2010, which has enabled Gatwick to double the size of its snow kit. Gatwick can store up to 600,000 litres of anti-icing agents – double the capacity of 2010 and enough to last ten days in the most extreme weather conditions or for an entire mild winter season.
• Gatwick has 1.8 million sq ft of runway to clear of snow and anti-ice.
• Gatwick has around 23 miles of surface roads to clear of snow and ice.
• Gatwick is responsible for clearing snow and de-icing the runway, taxiways, car parks and airport roads.
• Airlines and their handling agents are responsible for clearing snow and de-icing the aircraft stands.
• The airport staff team can be enhanced through the support of both contract staff and staff volunteers who are specifically trained to assist on the airfield and in the terminals during periods of snow.
• Useful numbers for passengers include Network Rail on 08457114141 www.networkrail.co.uk, Gatwick Express on 0845 850 1530 www.gatwickexpress.com and the Highways Agency on 0300 123 5000 www.highways.gov.uk

About Gatwick
AirportGatwick Airport is the UK’s second largest airport and the busiest single-runway airport in the world. It serves around 200 destinations in 90 countries for around 34 million passengers a year on short- and long-haul point-to-point services. It is also a major economic driver for the South-East region, generating around 23,000 on-airport jobs and a further 13,000 jobs through related activities. The airport is 28 miles south of London with excellent public transport links, including the Gatwick Express. Gatwick Airport is owned by a group of international investment funds, of which Global Infrastructure Partners is the largest shareholder.Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Gatwick_Airport