Gatwick Airport is preparing to open its North Terminal on June 15. This comes as airlines start scaling up their flying programmes. easyJet is to resume some flights from June 15 and Ryanair from July 1.
Wizz Air has already resumed services from London Luton Airport but the reopening of Gatwick will provide further flights.
Gatwick will also double its operating hours from next week.
Gatwick Airport said in a statement yesterday: “From 15 June operating hours will increase to 06:00-22:00 and North Terminal operations resume with easyJet, Wizz Air, Ryanair, Belavia, Vueling and Blue Island flights.”
A number of health and safety measures will be in place to limit the spread of coronavirus.
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Everyone will be required to wear a face covering when travelling through the airport.
Face mask vending machines will also be made available.
Hand sanitiser stations, protective screens, regular deep cleaning and social distancing measures in place throughout the hub.
There will be “ample, well-signposted hand washing facilities.”
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The airport has installed Perspex screens throughout the terminals, including check in desks, and gate rooms.
In addition to passenger guidance online – available on Gatwick’s website and passenger app – digital and physical signage advising passengers of the new health measures is displayed throughout the airport and a new film informs passengers of the new guidance and what to expect when travelling through the airport.
Stewart Wingate, Chief Executive, Gatwick Airport, said: “Having remained open throughout this pandemic the wellbeing and safety of our passengers and everyone that works at the airport remains our top priority.
“We have introduced a range of new social distancing and hygiene solutions to help this happen so we can all help protect each other when travelling through the airport.”
He continued: “We want people to understand that airports and air travel is a safe environment in this COVID-19 travelling world.
“We are pleased to be in a position to re-open the North Terminal and we look forward to welcoming back easyJet as they restart flights alongside our other airlines.
“The recent Government announcement regarding the 14-day quarantine period for passengers arriving into the UK is, in our opinion, already having an impact on the start of air travel recovery.
“We accept the Government’s absolute priority is the protection of public health, but we continue to push for regular, country by country reviews of quarantine regulations, based on medical evidence.”
However, Britons must remember that the government is still warning against non-essential travel.
What’s more, anyone flying will face a 14-day quarantine on return to the UK under new measures which came into force on Monday.
This is set to be reviewed in late June although an end date for the travel quarantine has not been announced.