Gatwick Airport has launched a robotic valet parking service designed for passengers departing for at least five days. The automated system, unveiled just days after an air traffic control glitch caused widespread travel disruptions, allows holidaymakers to hand over their vehicles to a robotic system.
To utilize the service, passengers drive to a designated garage near the South Terminal and scan a QR code. After parking their car in a private suite, a small robot collects the vehicle and transports it to an outdoor parking space. Upon the passenger's return, the system is alerted, and the car is made available for collection at the departure point by the time they have cleared immigration and baggage claim.
The service costs approximately £109 for a five-day stay and operates on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Gatwick is considering expanding the service to include weekends and offers out-of-hours collection for passengers facing flight delays.
However, the service is not compatible with all vehicles. Approximately five percent of cars, including larger models like the Range Rover Sport Hybrid and Renault Trafic Van, as well as low-slung sports cars and SUVs with roof boxes, cannot be accommodated. Passengers retain their car keys throughout the process.
Oli Bedford, Head of Airport Access, Marketing and Commercial Products at London Gatwick, described the technology as a "game changer" for passengers, emphasizing its speed, ease of use, and hassle-free nature. The electronic valet service was developed in partnership with Stanley Robotics.
Clément Boussard, CEO of Stanley Robotics, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration with Gatwick, noting that the project represents a significant step for the company in the UK and addresses the airport's parking capacity challenges.
The introduction of this automated parking system follows recent incidents that affected air travel. Last month, a fire destroyed approximately 140 cars at a third-party car park near Gatwick, leading to power outages for nearby homes. Additionally, a major technical failure within the UK's air traffic control system caused thousands of flight cancellations and delays earlier in the week. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has commissioned an independent investigation into the air traffic control system failure.