Gatwick Airport has confirmed it will reopen its South Terminal after nearly two years of inactivity on 27 March amid an ongoing recruitment campaign for more than 2,000 new staff.
Flights have been operating solely from the airport’s North Terminal since 15 June 2020 to save on costs, but activity will return to the South Terminal as the airport enters what it expects to be a busy summer season.
British Airways has already announced it will restart its short-haul services from Gatwick from 29 March, and its low-cost sister airline, Vueling, will add five new short-haul routes and base three aircraft at the airport.
Wizz Air will increase its operations from the airport with 18 new routes, while easyJet, the airport’s biggest airline, has also taken up more slots and plans to fly its "busiest flying schedule ever" from the airport.
Gatwick and its partners, such as airlines, retailers and ground handlers, will also continue its recruitment drive with more than 2,000 jobs still available for positions such as security officers, IT specialists, engineers, shop and restaurant workers, ground and cargo handlers and cabin crew.
Despite the reopening of the terminal, Gatwick chief executive Stewart Wingate said it may "take time" for consumer confidence to "fully recover", and urged the UK government to remove all travel restrictions in 2022.
"Following some major announcements from our airlines about significantly increased flying schedules, and from the government on removing travel restrictions and airport slot regulations, we can now look forward to once again operating a busy Gatwick this summer and beyond," he added.
"Today’s news means Gatwick and our partners can also begin recruiting new staff to help us meet this demand, which is excellent news for local people who have been so badly impacted by the effects of the pandemic."
Passengers who have booked flights are advised to check which terminal their flight will depart from.
Airlines who will be operating from the South Terminal include: BA, Vueling, Wizz, Ryanair, Norwegian, Turkish Airlines, TAP, Eastern Airways, Aurigny, Aer Lingus, Air Baltic, AirMalta, Air Europa and Enter Air, while easyJet will operate across both South and North Terminals.