Passengers travelling from Gatwick Airport will be able to use a new robotic parking service from August.
The airport said the system, believed to be the first of its kind at a UK airport, would allow passengers to leave their cars in a private drop-off cabin before robots move them into secure parking spaces.
Customers will not need to hand over their keys.
The facility, developed in partnership with Stanley Robotics, is located near the South Terminal. Passengers can walk to the terminal or use a free shuttle bus.
Drivers will enter a parking cabin, scan their booking and leave their vehicle inside. A robot will then lift the car by its tyres and transport it to an available space.
Customers will provide their return flight details when booking, allowing the system to bring their vehicle back to a collection cabin before they arrive.
Gatwick said the service would reduce the time passengers spend searching for parking spaces and make the start of their journeys more convenient.
Oli Bedford, Head of Airport Access, Marketing and Commercial Products at London Gatwick, said: “This is a real game-changer for our passengers. It’s quick, easy and completely hassle-free – and you even get to keep your keys, giving extra peace of mind while you’re enjoying your holiday.”
Clément Boussard, Chief Executive Officer of Stanley Robotics, said: “We are thrilled to partner with London Gatwick, a global leader in aviation, to deploy our solution and address their critical parking capacity challenges as they prepare for significant growth. This project marks a major milestone for Stanley Robotics in the UK, and we are proud to bring our innovative technology to one of the world’s most forward-thinking airports.”
The robotic parking service is now available to book, with the first passengers expected to use it in August.
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