London Gatwick’s impact extends far beyond connecting passengers with destinations. Whether that’s by championing regional growth through its Airport Economic Zone (AEZ), investing in local communities through the London Gatwick Community Fund, or pioneering new technologies such as robot parking and Smart Stand operations, the airport continues to look beyond day-to-day operations, investing in the future of the South East and aviation itself.
Supporting a shared vision for regional growth
In 2025, London Gatwick launched the Gatwick Region Airport Economic Zone, bringing together partners from across the public and private sectors to promote inward investment, international trade and the visitor economy. Covering a region that contributes £165bn annually to the UK economy, the initiative is designed to help the region speak with a stronger, unified voice.
The latest milestone in this journey came last month with the launch of the Interim Strategic Advisory Board (ISAB), which brings together senior representatives from business, government and academia to guide the AEZ through its next phase of development. Co-chaired by Julie Kapsalis, MBE, and London Gatwick’s Economic and Community Partnerships Manager, Richard Lennard, the board will help shape future governance arrangements while maintaining momentum behind a range of regional growth initiatives. Members include representatives from the British Chambers of Commerce, Office for Investment, University of Brighton, local authorities and wider regional stakeholders.
Reflecting on the significance of the ISAB’s launch, Richard Lennard said: “The Gatwick Region Airport Economic Zone has now reached an important phase of development ahead of full delivery.
“To support this work, we are really pleased to have appointed representatives to the Interim Strategic Advisory Board who bring a wealth of experience from both the public and private sectors.
“Coordinated partnership working is key to successfully promoting our region and, importantly, to maximising the opportunities presented by London Gatwick’s global connectivity and our future growth plans”.
While the board itself is new, the ambition behind it is not. The AEZ has been developed over several years to create a stronger, more unified voice for the region, helping partners collaborate across traditional geographic boundaries and maximise the economic potential of the South East.
Earlier this year, we saw this proposition in practice as the AEZ attended the UK Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum with its largest-ever delegation – bringing together 60 delegates from 28 partner organisations. Through the AEZ, the South East showcased its rich and diverse investment opportunities on a national stage and demonstrated the power of a coordinated regional approach.
Economic growth, however, is only one part of the story.
Earlier this summer, London Gatwick announced the launch of the new London Gatwick Community Fund, which will succeed the Gatwick Airport Community Trust (GACT) following the trust’s more than 20 years of community investment. During that time, GACT supported hundreds of local projects, awarding more than £590,000 through over 320 grants in recent years alone. From sensory gardens and inclusive play spaces to boxing clubs, sports facilities and programmes supporting vulnerable groups, GACT has helped fund projects that make a tangible difference to local communities.
The new London Gatwick Community Fund builds on that legacy through a refreshed funding approach that delivers dedicated funding streams for Surrey, Sussex and Kent. While the structure may be evolving, the commitment remains unchanged: supporting local organisations that improve wellbeing, create opportunities and strengthen communities across the region.
Leading the way on innovation
London Gatwick continues to invest in new technology, pioneering innovations designed to improve both airport operations and the passenger experience.
One of the most visible examples is the installation of robot parking in partnership with Stanley Robotics. Now operating at London Gatwick, the service makes the airport the first in the UK – and only the second globally – to offer fully autonomous robotic valet parking.
Designed to maximise ease for passengers, the service completely removes the time spent finding a parking space while making more efficient use of the airport’s parking capacity. Passengers simply leave their vehicle in a dedicated cabin, keep their keys throughout their trip and leave the rest to the robots.
The installation of robot parking typifies London Gatwick’s ongoing commitment to identifying and helping to deliver innovative solutions that improve the passenger experience.
Innovation is also helping drive efficiency behind the scenes.
London Gatwick is pioneering Smart Stand technology – a first-of-its-kind system that is transforming how aircraft are prepared for departure. The technology is now operating across nine aircraft stands and has already supported thousands of flights.
Smart Stand enables key aircraft servicing activities to be coordinated remotely from a central control room, helping improve punctuality and operational resilience at the world’s most efficient single-runway airport. It also reduces manual effort and uses automation to enhance real-time decision-making throughout the turnaround.
Initially developed as an innovation trial, Smart Stand has now become a practical operational tool, positioning London Gatwick at the forefront of airport innovation.
