GATWICK is the first airport in the world to launch a car-pooling service.

It offers staff preferential parking spaces and tracks their associated reduction in vehicle miles and emissions in real time.

The service, in partnership with journey sharing platform Faxi, collects data from each shared journey via a smartphone app and uses it to encourage drivers with access to preferential parking bays in their existing car park.

Over time those drivers who regularly transport the most passengers to and from work will be given the opportunity to upgrade to a staff car park of their choice.

These car parks are located up to one mile closer to the terminal buildings so the scheme could significantly reduce commuting time by up to 40 minutes each day.

Gatwick Airport’s head of car parking Gary Wallace said: “I am pleased to announce Gatwick is partnering with Faxi as the airport continues to expand its portfolio of sustainable travel and parking schemes for both passengers and staff at the airport.

“Faxi allows our staff to not only save money and share travel costs but also reduce their car emissions and traffic on local roads at the same time, which once again demonstrates Gatwick’s commitment to being the UK’s most environmentally friendly airport.”

The Faxi app provides drivers with information showing other staff on their route and the potential diversion from their normal route in minutes for pick-up.

This allows drivers to fill their vehicle with passengers, minimise their environmental impact and gives the best chance of being upgraded to their choice of car park.

Only around ten per cent of people in UK regularly share their journeys with another traveller while the average UK worker will spend 400 days of their life commuting.