? Around 1,230,000 passengers to travel through Gatwick during half term week with around 628,000 departing UK shores
? Orlando jumps into top ten half term destinations for the first time while European breaks continue to prove popular
? Around 270,000 departing passengers expected across the bank holiday weekend
? From porters to pushchairs to airport entertainment, Gatwick?s family-friendly facilities and services help get breaks off to the best possible start
p>? Around 1,230,000 passengers to travel through Gatwick during half term week with around 628,000 departing UK shores? Orlando jumps into top ten half term destinations for the first time while European breaks continue to prove popular
? Around 270,000 departing passengers expected across the bank holiday weekend
? From porters to pushchairs to airport entertainment, Gatwick?s family-friendly facilities and services help get breaks off to the best possible start
Around 628,000 passengers look set to depart from Gatwick Airport over the next week as half term holidays get underway. Many seem to be making the most of the nine day school break with long-haul destination Orlando jumping into the half-term top ten for the first time. European breaks also continue to prove popular as Brits leave the unsettled weather behind to jet off to sunnier climes.
Friday May 23 is expected to be the busiest departure day with around 72,500 passengers expected to fly out of Gatwick. To celebrate the start of the holidays and add to the excitement for families, Gatwick is laying on ?All the fun of the fair? events across both airport terminals from 7am-12pm.
Many British holidaymakers appear to be taking the full week off with Sunday, June 1 (the day before schools go back) set to be the busiest day in arrivals with around 68,000 passengers expected at the airport.
However, the bank holiday is also affording the chance for many to take a shorter trip away. Around 503,000 passengers are expected to travel through Gatwick between Friday May 23 and Monday, May 26 ? of which around 270,000 are departures.
The top ten half-term destinations are:
1. Barcelona
2. Malaga
3. Palma De Mallorca
4. Nice
5. Faro
6. Alicante
7. Dublin
8. Amsterdam
9. Orlando
10. Dalaman
Gatwick is encouraging parents to make the most of the airport?s tailored family facilities to make the journey as easy as possible. On the back of passenger feedback, Gatwick has recently introduced free-of-charge pushchairs to help passengers with young children get from the plane to the arrivals hall with ease while kids zones are also on hand to help keep youngsters entertained.
Nick Pope, terminal duty manager at London Gatwick Airport, said: ?These next few days are an exciting time at Gatwick as thousands jet away on bank holiday and half-term breaks. We want the airport to mark the real start of any trip away so have not only worked hard to make the journey smooth for all types of passengers but also laid on entertainment at peak times. With easy travel options to the airport and a range of bespoke services on offer, Gatwick is London?s airport of choice for families and travellers looking for a stress free start to their trip.?
Highlights of Gatwick?s family facilities and half term activities include:
Airport Entertainment:
On Friday, May 23, special funfair themed entertainment is being laid on in both terminals to keep passengers young and old busy before their flights. There will be photo booths with 100 different backdrops to choose from, a comedy duo playing paparazzi photographers, fairground stalls including ?hook the duck? and ?test your strength? as well as candy floss and popcorn stalls.
Pushchairs:
For families arriving into Gatwick, the airport has recently introduced free pushchairs for the journey between the plane and the arrivals hall where own pushchairs are returned.
Family Assistance Lanes:
Gatwick offers dedicated assistance security and immigration lanes for departing families to provide extra help and time.
Kids' Zones:
Gatwick?s kids' zones are the perfect place to keep children entertained whilst waiting for flights. The zones include a separate area for the kids to play and watch TV, plenty of seating for parents and are free of charge so make keeping an eye on the children that little bit easier. In North Terminal, parents can book into the new No.1 lounge that has separate family areas for the under 6's, a games room and even a cinema for older children.
For more information on Gatwick Airport?s family offering please visit:
www.gatwickairport.com/at-the-airport/passenger-facilities/children/
