Gatwick Airport launches robotic parking with a catch for drivers

Gatwick unveils robotic airport parking but drivers face key restrictions

Gatwick Airport launches robotic parking with a catch for drivers Gatwick Airport has unveiled a new robotic parking service that allows passengers to leave their cars in a dedicated parking suite while robots move the vehicles to a secure parking area. The West Sussex airport says the system is designed to offer a valet-style experience without passengers having to hand over their keys, but the service currently comes with several restrictions. How Gatwick's robotic parking works Passengers using the service drive into a garage close to the South Terminal and scan a QR code before leaving their vehicle in a dedicated parking suite. Once the driver has removed their luggage and left the area, a robotic vehicle lifts the car by its front wheels and transports it to an outdoor parking space. When the passenger returns from their trip, the system receives an alert that they have landed, allowing the vehicle to be returned to the garage ready for collection. Gatwick says the robotic facility is an additional parking product alongside its existing 47,000 parking spaces across the airport. The automated parking area currently has capacity for between 200 and 250 vehicles, while the technology is designed to make more efficient use of available space by allowing cars to be parked closer together. According to Stanley Robotics, the technology behind the system, automated parking can potentially fit significantly more vehicles into the same area than conventional parking. The robots use radar to detect obstacles around vehicles and are designed to stop if there is an intrusion, with staff in a control tower then able to check the situation. There are limits for drivers The robotic parking service currently costs around £109 for a five-day stay and is only available to passengers travelling for five days or longer. Drivers can currently drop off their vehicles on weekdays between 9am and 5pm, although Gatwick says these hours are expected to be expanded. There are also vehicle restrictions, with around 5% of vehicle models reportedly incompatible with the system. Examples include the Range Rover Sport Hybrid and Renault Trafic Van, while some low sports cars and SUVs carrying roof boxes are also unsuitable. Gatwick's new system arrives after a turbulent period for airport and aviation technology, with recent IT problems causing major disruption to UK air travel. The airport has also seen separate concerns around airport parking, including a fire at a third-party car park near Gatwick in August which destroyed vehicles belonging to holidaymakers. For drivers considering airport parking, the new robotic service highlights how much parking technology is changing, but also why checking the details before booking remains important. With restrictions on vehicle types, trip length and drop-off times, motorists will need to make sure the service is suitable for their journey before relying on it.