GATWICK Airport has announced it will reopen its south terminal next month to meet expected strong demand for air travel this summer.

The terminal has been dormant since June 15, 2020, to reduce costs during the coronavirus pandemic.

Flights have been operating solely from the airport’s north terminal.

The south terminal will reopen on March 27, for what the airport is expecting to be a “busy summer season”.

Gatwick chief executive Stewart Wingate said: “After an incredibly challenging two years for the airport, our partners, local communities and the entire aviation industry, we are delighted to be reopening our south terminal next month.

“Following some major announcements from our airlines about significantly increased flying schedules, and from 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.”

It comes on the day that testing requirements for those arriving into the UK have been eased, with fully vaccinated passengers, and those under the age of 18, no longer needing to take pre-departure and post-arrival tests.

A Gatwick spokesman said the increased demand is also “positive news” for the job market, with more than 2,000 jobs available for positions such as security officers, IT specialists, engineers, shop and restaurant workers, ground and cargo handlers and cabin crew.

British Airways (BA) has announced it will restart its short-haul services from Gatwick from March 29, with 35 new European routes added.

BA’s low-cost sister airline Vueling will also be expanding its operations, adding five new short-haul routes and basing three aircraft at Gatwick.

Wizz Air also plans to increase its operations from the airport with 18 new routes, while easyJet, Gatwick’s biggest airline, has also taken up more slots, and plans to fly its “busiest schedule ever” from the airport.

Tickets to more than 30 long-haul routes from Gatwick are also on sale, including New York, Tampa, Bangkok, Phuket, Mauritius, Dubai, Doha, Islamabad – and range of cities across Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico, including Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Cancun, Antigua and Montego Bay.

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