Finding an airport parking space could be one less thing to worry about before a flight from Gatwick. You can now leave that particular job to a robot.

London Gatwick has introduced the UK’s first robotic airport parking service, allowing passengers to drop off their car near the South Terminal and walk away while an autonomous machine parks it.

There’s no need to hand over the keys, either. Drivers keep them for the entire trip while the car is stored in a secure parking area.

How does Gatwick’s robot parking actually work?

Rather than driving around a car park looking for a space, passengers drive into a private enclosed cabin and scan their booking.

Once the engine is switched off and everyone is out of the vehicle, the automated system takes over. A low-profile robot moves underneath the car, lifts it by the tyres and carries it to its parking space.

The robots can also handle the return journey. Passengers provide their flight details when booking, allowing the system to track their arrival. Their car can then be moved back to a collection cabin ready for them.

That could prove particularly useful when a return flight is delayed. Instead of relying solely on the original arrival time, the system can respond to updated flight information.

How much does Gatwick’s robot parking cost?

The robotic parking service has a minimum stay of five days, so it isn’t designed for passengers heading away for a quick overnight trip.

Prices can vary depending on travel dates, but the service has been reported at around £109 for a five-day stay. A seven-day stay costs £129, compared with £98 for Gatwick’s Long Stay parking and £144 for its valet option.

That puts the robots somewhere between conventional airport parking and a premium valet service, although prices will depend on when you book and how long you’re away.

There are also restrictions to consider. During the initial rollout, drop-off and collection are available Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm, while customers who stay beyond their booked return date can face an additional daily charge.

Not every car can be parked by a robot

There are some restrictions before handing your car over to Gatwick’s new robotic workforce.

The airport says the system is compatible with around 95% of vehicle models. Cars must weigh no more than 2.6 tonnes, measure no more than 2.3 metres high and have at least 120mm of ground clearance. There are also limits on wheelbase, wheel size and vehicle overhang.

That rules out some large vans and pick-up trucks, low sports cars and particularly heavy vehicles. Gatwick gives the Bentley Continental GT, Ford Ranger and Range Rover Sport Hybrid as examples of vehicles that may not meet the requirements.

Passengers also can’t simply turn up and ask a robot to take their car. Robotic Parking is pre-book only, according to Gatwick’s current parking information.

There is a practical reason for introducing the technology beyond making parking easier. Robotic systems can position vehicles closer together because drivers don’t need space to open doors or manoeuvre once cars enter the storage area. The Times reports that Gatwick’s system allows around 20% more vehicles to fit into the available space.

easyJet is making headlines this week – and not for the best reasons.

A flight bound for the United Kingdom was forced to return to Tenerife after a major disturbance involving around 10 passengers broke out shortly after take-off, prompting the captain to prioritise the safety of everyone on board.

The incident occurred on easyJet flight EZY3352, which had departed Tenerife South Airport for Liverpool. According to Spanish air traffic authorities, the crew requested an immediate return to the airport around 30 minutes into the journey after reporting a serious altercation involving a group of passengers. Air traffic controllers coordinated a priority landing, and police officers were waiting to meet the aircraft on arrival.

easyJet onboard fight may have started before boarding

Officials said the disturbance involved approximately 10 passengers travelling together. Although initial reports described the incident as a “mid-air brawl”, later information from Spain’s Civil Guard indicated that eight people — two adults and six minors — were removed from the aircraft after it landed safely.

Investigators believe the disagreement began inside the airport terminal before boarding and continued after take-off. No injuries were reported among passengers or crew, and officials confirmed that no arrests were made. However, everyone involved in the disturbance was identified by police and escorted from the aircraft before the flight resumed its journey to Liverpool John Lennon Airport yesterday.

EU review of ownership rules threatens easyJet bids

The onboard disturbance is not the only issue facing easyJet this month. The European Union is preparing a review of airline ownership rules designed to prevent foreign investors from gaining effective control of European carriers.

The review comes amid a bidding war between two US investment firms for control of the budget airline, a contest that is expected to test EU rules requiring airlines to remain at least 51% owned and controlled by EU nationals.

According to Reuters, easyJet earlier this month backed a £5.7 billion ($7.65 billion) takeover offer from Apollo Global Management, surpassing a previous £5.5 billion bid from Castlelake. However, Apollo has not publicly explained how it would satisfy the EU’s majority ownership requirements, one of the biggest obstacles facing any non-EU acquisition of a European airline.

Starting this weekend, Gatwick Express is trialling early morning and overnight train services to cater to those getting early flights out of London on Saturdays, and returning back to the capital late on Sunday nights.

Departing London Victoria at 03:40 on Saturdays and leaving Gatwick Airport at 04:35 on Sundays, the new train times tap into the trend for ‘bed to boarding’ style, which is being led by Gen Z travellers.

In a survey commissioned by Gatwick Express, more than a third (33%) of Brits aged 18-29 say they have travelled to the airport in pyjamas, with over half of the same age group (53%) saying it’s acceptable to do so for an early morning flight. This is in stark comparison to Gen X (13%) and Boomers (4%) sharing the same views.

Gifts for early raisers

To celebrate the launch of the new trains and additional benefits, Gatwick Express customers were gifted with travel essentials kits this week, featuring handy holiday items such as portable chargers, passport holders, and mini toiletries.

“We know that annual leave is precious and when the time comes to get away, every minute counts. Our new services will help people maximise their holidays by connecting them to early morning and late-night flights over the weekend. These new customer enhancements are part of our wider strategy to drive growth to key airports on our network,” says Louis Rambaud, Chief Customer Officer at GTR.

Rail Minister, Lord Peter Hendy, said: “These additional overnight Gatwick Express services will make a real difference to people arriving late or travelling for early flights – connecting them straight to the capital. Alongside contactless ticketing at every London airport, we’re building a railway that works for passengers and drives growth across the country.”