Gatwick Airport has finally reopened its South Terminal after almost two years. The terminal, which shut down in June 2020, opened its doors to travelers again on Sunday. Here's what to expect now that Gatwick's South Terminal is open for business.

Almost double the flight capacity

Gatwick Airport will handle nearly double the number of daily flights now that its South Terminal has reopened. The airport will ramp up its daily operations from 300 to around 570 flights. Stewart Wingate, Chief Executive at Gatwick Airport, said,

"A lot of work has gone into preparing our south terminal, and I would like to thank everybody involved as their combined efforts mean that today we are effectively opening a medium-sized airport overnight, which is no small task."

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The airport will handle its highest number of departures since 2019 over April. Photo: Getty Images

Along with a hectic summer schedule, Gatwick is expecting 3,000% more flights this April with over 9,800 departures. The airport projects around 80,000 passengers will pass through its doors on Sunday, with this figure expected to exceed 150,000 during the peak summer months.

Wingate added,

"We’re going to ramp up very, very quickly over the next two or three weeks, and we’ll be busy throughout the summer period and very close to the 2019 volume levels. There’s absolutely no question that there’s strong demand, we know that by talking with our airlines."

Airlines are switching terminals

Airlines now flying out of the South Terminal include Wizz Air, TAP Air Portugal, Iberia Express and Norwegian, with British Airways, Ryanair and Vueling expected to shift to the reopened terminal in the coming days.

From the reopened South Terminal, BA will offer 35 short-haul routes across Europe, while Wizz Air will operate 25 European routes and Vueling a total of 16 routes. Gatwick's largest operator, easyJet, will operate from both airport terminals.

Refurbished facilities and amenities

Gatwick has spent months revamping its South Terminal in preparation for its reopening. This includes updating, renovating and cleaning its facilities, shops and cafes and ensuring all other vital systems are ready to go.

Nick Williams, head of retail operations, said,

"It's effectively been like opening a new shopping center from scratch."

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Photo: Getty Images

Since it was mothballed on June 15th, 2020, local retailers and airport service companies have experienced a slump in business. The airport has recruited thousands of new workers in recent months to ensure the terminal is up to scratch.

Wingate further stated,

"Behind the scenes over the last two or three months, we’ve been making sure that all the facilities are in good shape and that all the systems are working. I’m pleased to say that all the early flights got up in time."

Are you happy to see Gatwick Airport fully reopened? Do you have any journeys out of Gatwick coming up? Let us know in the comments.