Gatwick signs contract with Stanley Robotics to be first UK airport to trial valet parking robots

• Trial to run from the second half of 2019 to early 2020
• Guy Stephenson: “Valet parking robots could revolutionise parking at Gatwick.”

LONDON, UK, 2019-Mar-28 — /Travel PR News/ — Gatwick has today (26 March 2019) signed a framework contract with Stanley Robotics and it will be the first UK airport to trial robots that valet park passengers’ cars.

The trial will run from the second half of 2019 to early 2020 and passengers will simply leave their car in a well-lit, spacious ‘parking station’ close to the South Terminal entrance and – without handing over keys – the driverless robot will gently lift up the car and store it in a secure car park.

The system will also be connected to real-time flight information so the robot simply returns the vehicle to the parking station. The user then receives an SMS that the vehicle is ready and waiting for their arrival.

More details on Gatwick’s trial will be released prior to the trial launch in coming weeks.

Guy Stephenson, Chief Commercial Officer, Gatwick Airport said:

“I’m delighted to have signed the contract for this new partnership with Stanley Robotics.  The valet parking robots could revolutionise parking at Gatwick and may also become common-place at airports and other businesses across the world.  The new service will be a convenient, personalised experience that will save passengers time, while also reducing vehicle emissions.

“With the potential to significantly increase car park capacity, this new automated system could also help the airport meet the increasing demand for air travel with only limited changes to our existing infrastructure.”

Stéphane Evanno, COO of Stanley Robotics, said:

“We are proud to be leading this innovation with Gatwick Airport, whose excellence in operations is recognised globally.

“The UK is of strategic importance to Stanley Robotics; the market provides exciting potential for our product. Thanks to this first partnership, we have established an office and team in the country to further this agenda.

“We are now working with Gatwick to offer visitors a world class experience. We aim to completely reinvent the parking experience and create a seamless customer journey. In addition, we will be maximising the efficient use of land for Gatwick and bringing them a sustainable solution, allowing us to envisage long-term collaboration.”

About Gatwick Airport

Gatwick’s Airport is the UK’s second largest airport. It serves more than 230 destinations in 74 countries for 46 million passengers a year on short and long-haul point-to-point services. Gatwick is also a major economic driver and generates around 85,000 jobs nationally, with 24,000 of these located on the airport. The airport is south of Central London with excellent public transport links, including the Gatwick Express, and is part of the Oyster contactless payment network.

Gatwick’s 2018 draft master plan sets out proposals for the airport’s ongoing development and sustainable growth. It also outlines the airport’s latest thinking on how it can meet the increasing demand for air travel and provide Britain with enhanced global connectivity. A 12-week public consultation closed on 10 January 2019, and a consultation response summary and final master plan will be published later in 2019.

For further information on Gatwick Airport see www.gatwickairport.com or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Gatwick_Airport

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

Source: GATWICK AIRPORT