Gatwick ‘prepared for snow’

Gatwick airport is now fully prepared for winter weather, officials said last week.

Travel Insurance News - 14/01/2013

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Gatwick airport is now fully prepared for winter weather, officials said last week.

According to the facility’s manager of airport operations, Andy Crabb, Gatwick has now taken delivery of the entirety of its new £8 million snow kit. Reports said that the kit is on par with snow equipment used at Olso’s Gardermoen airport and features a large fleet of ploughs, in addition to cutters, brushes, tractors and de-icing mechanisms.

The move follows last year’s unseasonably snowy conditions that plagued the capital’s airports, leaving thousands of passengers stranded and a backlog of luggage stuck for days on end. The issue caused outcry from passengers and government officials alike as fingers were pointed at airport operating firms, notably the former BAA.

Mr Crabb said in a statement that all of the equipment has been fully tested and is ready to be put to use.

Indoor equipment also saw a major upgrade. Gatwick bosses said that the airport now has 4,000 blankets and 8,000 bottles of water readily available, in addition to 600 mattresses, 600 folding beds as well as several snow shovels and travel cots.

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