Gatwick to invest heavily in snow-clearing equipment

News at Gatwick 13/12/2010

Spanish airports playing catch up following strike : December 2010 : Gatwick flights are getting back to normal

Airport bosses have promised to invest as needed to prevent future travel chaos.

Bosses at Gatwick have said they are going to buy more snow-clearing equipment so the airport can avoid future repeats of the weather-driven interruptions that have recently played havoc with air travel. Gatwick, the second largest airport in the UK, closed for two days last week amidst heavy snow and ice.

Stewart Wingate, chief executive of Gatwick, said more than a billion pounds was to be invested in Gatwick. Included in that investment is the procurement of snow ploughs.

He said that after the problems with heavy winter weather at the airport last year, they had concluded that such weather happened once in 20 years; that it was ‘unprecedented’. However, less than a year later, more ‘unprecedented’ weather had hit the airport.

Mr Wingate said that it was only natural now that someone in his position would now be keen to acquire more snow-clearing equipment. The cost of the new equipment is being borne by Gatwick’s new owners. Gatwick was sold last year to US-based fund Global Infrastructure Partners for £1.5 billion.

Some 120,000 travellers were stranded at the airport when it was hit by heavy snow and ice. The weather also caused major problems for regional roads and rail networks. Forecasters say freezing weather will continue next week.

Spanish airports playing catch up following strike : December 2010 : Gatwick flights are getting back to normal

Parking at Gatwick

SAVE up to 50% at Gatwick Airport Car Parks. Pre-book to guarantee your booking for at the best price. Pre-book to guarantee the best prices for your booking at .

LGW