Gatwick CEO confirms £8 million snow kit spend

Gatwick CEO Stewart Wingate has confirmed an £8 million investment to double Gatwick’s fleet of snow clearing equipment from 47 to 95 vehicles.

Mr Wingate said:

“This investment will give us the largest snow fleet of any UK airport, demonstrating our commitment to keeping Gatwick operating in the toughest of weather conditions.

We took delivery of the first two additional snow ploughs early on Saturday morning – just before the latest snowfall – and put them straight to work to get our airlines and passengers moving again.

When the remaining equipment arrives – some next week and the rest in early 2011 – Gatwick will have the same snow clearance capability as Oslo airport.”

This £8 million investment will give Gatwick new state-of-the-art snow ploughs, brushes, cutters, blowers and de-icing vehicles as well as tractors and other small plant equipment.