GATWICK Airport is investing £1.15 billion over the next five years with £240 million planned for 2017/18 alone.

This is part of plans for more growth and improved efficiency while also maintaining its record levels of passenger satisfaction.

This 2017 Capital Investment Programme sets out Gatwick’s investment strategy which continues to improve facilities and transform service.

Since the airport changed ownership in December 2009 Gatwick has invested £1.5 billion.

Projects include:

- reconfiguring stands to facilitate a changing aircraft mix

- building a new hangar in partnership with Boeing

- extending Pier 6 to increase pier service levels well beyond its 95 per cent target

- adding a new domestic arrivals facility in South Terminal

- and continuing to roll out its self-service bag drop product.

The commitment in this Capital Investment Programme will bring Gatwick’s total investment plans, since change of ownership through to 2022, to £2.7 billion.

Gatwick’s construction director Raymond Melee said: “Since coming into independent ownership Gatwick has delivered record growth in passenger numbers and long haul services while also taking passenger satisfaction levels to an all-time high.

“As we plan to grow towards 50 million passengers per annum, we will focus on efficiency and service so that our passengers continue to receive the airport experience they expect, in the most sustainable manner possible.

“We will continue to develop the airport to meet the needs of our airlines and passengers with improvements to the way we operate on the airfield and the service we offer in our terminals.

“These projects will be delivered in a way that will help us realise our ambition to become the UK’s most sustainable airport.

“Regarding future runway expansion, our financable and deliverable scheme for a second runway remains on the table.

“We will deliver a new runway for Britain in addition to or instead of Heathrow, should the government give us its support now or in the future.”

Other new projects include:

- a new arrivals facility including a new baggage reclaim, in South Terminal

- a suite of IT projects supporting core airport functions

- expanding the departures lounge in both terminals

- extra car parking

- improved access to South Terminal for passengers and staff using local buses to travel to and from the airport

- projects to support greater use of electric vehicles, continuing to reduce the airport’s environmental impact.

The Capital Investment Programme is a rolling five-year plan which is published annually. This allows the CIP to be refreshed regularly as market conditions and operational needs change.

Gatwick Airport is the UK’s second largest airport and the most efficient single-runway airport in the world.

It serves more than 228 destinations in 74 countries for 45 million passengers a year on short and long-haul point-to-point services.