Gatwick one step closer to two bag flying - Gatwick Airport News

Airport news for Gatwick on 11/02/2008.

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Starting on Monday, travellers entering the North Terminal of Gatwick Airport will be exempt from the one bag hand luggage limitation.

Since January 7th, travellers passing through the South Terminal have been able to travel with two pieces of carry on luggage.

However, final approval for the plan remains subject to the airports, according to an airport spokesperson. In addition, she said that the hand luggage rules remain in place for all other flights.

"This rule will be relaxed in the near future when the ongoing construction project to upgrade and expand the security facilities at the airport is completed," she said.

The spokesperson pointed that Gatwick has made great improvements to facilitate the security screening at the airport. Last July, six new security lanes were opened and a further seven lanes will open this year around Easter time.

According to the spokesperson, when the new lanes open, there will be a total of 35 security lanes in the South Terminal and 15 in the North.

To staff the lanes, the airport spokesperson says the airport has 450 new security officers on staff.

The Department of Transport has ruled that all airports in the UK must relax the restriction on hand luggage by the end of May.

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