Gatwick Airport gives passengers Christmas travel advice

Teams across Gatwick Airport have been putting the finishing touches on their plans for Christmas, with an increase in passenger numbers with many flying to see family and friends over the break.

Gatwick’s busiest day for departures over the festive period is expected to be Friday 30 December, closely followed by Friday 23 December.

The airport has given passengers advice when travelling through the terminals.

• Don’t pack wrap presents in your hand luggage, any perfume or toiletries must be under 100ml and fit into the free one-litre plastic bag provided. This also applies to gifts like snow globes
• Christmas crackers can go through security as long as the pack is still sealed, you can’t take more than two boxes per passenger, party poppers are not allowed at all
• There will be no trains on Christmas or Boxing Day, but there are some coaches to London, trains will be disrupted across the holidays due to engineering works and strikes
• If you need special assistance pre-book it a couple of days before your journey
• All of the airport’s car parks will be open all over the festive period
• When it comes to festive food you can take anything through security, so long as it is not a liquid, cream, gel or paste over 100ml – mince pies, Christmas puddings and even frozen turkeys can all go into your hand baggage 
• Make sure you leave plenty of time to get to the airport, trains and coaches will be running reduced services and taxis will be busier, so plan how you are going to get here
• Always check with your airline before you finish packing. Each airline has different rules on the weight, size and number of bags you can take on board as hand luggage

Border Force staff announced strike action over the Christmas period but flights from Gatwick are expected to arrive and depart as normal, with other government staff assigned to operate passport checks at the border.

However, arriving passengers will take longer to travel through the border than usual, so passengers are advised to use e-gates where possible.

Walk-outs are planned on December 23, 24, 25, and 28, 29, 30 alongside half-day strikes on December 31 and 26.

The airport will also have extra staff available to help arriving passengers, who are advised to bring extra food and water in case of significant queues.

Jonathan Pollard, chief commercial officer at Gatwick Airport said: “There is already a fantastic buzz around the airport as we prepare for the first Christmas since 2019 without travel restrictions.

“It’s encouraging to see so many people jetting off for that long-awaited holiday, or to see family and friends for the festive period.

“We are also delighted to be able to offer passengers even more options for travel this Christmas, having recently launched new routes to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City with Bamboo Airways, and Cape Town with British Airways.”