Gatwick announces world’s largest self-service bag drop-off

<p style="text-align: justify;">The world&rsquo;s largest self-service luggage drop off zone is said to open at one of London&rsquo;s major airports this month. Gatwick&#39;s North Terminal will boast a state of the art system allowing passengers to check-in in under 3 minutes.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Different from the classic counter, operated by one of the airlines ground staff, the new automated system will enable passengers, who have already checked in online, to drop their luggage at one of the machines, print the tags and attached them to their luggage before it is sent off for loading.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="/uploads/2015/10/airport-baggage-dropoff-gatwick.jpg" style="width: 540px; height: 405px;" /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Initially this service will only be available to easyJet customers. The airline was selected as it is the airports biggest carrier. Construction began approximately a year ago as part of Gatwick&rsquo;s &pound;1 billion investment strategy. Estimated costs for this project alone lay at &nbsp;&pound;36 million. Other projects include:</p><ul> <li style="text-align: justify;">A new and improved &pound;30 million security area.</li> <li style="text-align: justify;">A &pound;21 million re-haul of the departure lounge for additional retail space.</li> <li style="text-align: justify;">&pound;10 million&nbsp;to be spent on the passport check area. Additional automated e-gates are to be installed for quicker processing.</li> <li style="text-align: justify;">A total of &pound;250 million to be invested in the maintenance of airport facilities such as elevators, baggage belts etc.</li> </ul><p style="text-align: justify;">The new self-service zone will undergo a two-week testing period followed by a phased opening later on this month. Approximately 28 units will be opened and will be increased to 48 by April 2016, when it will officially become the world&rsquo;s largest airport self-service system. It is expected to boost capacity of check-ins by almost 45 percent.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">With this investment plan in place, passengers travelling to and from Gatwick airport can expect an increasingly pleasant and smooth airport experience.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Written by: <a href="https://www.flight-delayed.co.uk" target="_self">Flight-Delayed</a></p>