Gatwick Airport to invest £1.1bn over next five years

Gatwick Aiport has unveiled its refreshed five-year plan to invest £1.1bn in infrastructure improvements through to 2024.The planned investment at the London airport brings the total investment at the airport since 2009 to £3.21bn.The re-phased latest plan will see the North Terminal extended with six new departure gates at Pier 6, main runway re-surfacing in 2021 and an additional rapid exit taxiway built.A new 3,250 space car park is also planned for the North Terminal.New operator Vinci Airports will also bring greater automation to check-in and baggage handling as well as trial the use of robots to park cars.It also confirmed Costain would start work on the £190m railway station overhaul next spring.The extension of North Terminal departure gate rooms will be the biggest investment in the plan.The airport terminal will get eight new gate rooms, as well as new coffee shops and retail outlets.Work continues on the design of this western extension ahead of Bechtel and its contractors starting construction this autumn.