Passengers arriving from the UK and the Republic of Ireland will now be able to disembark straight into the terminal building and pick up their bags from a new dedicated baggage reclaim belt.

Previously, arrivals had to be coached from their aircraft to a special baggage reclaim area to ensure segregation from international passengers.

While a small number of flights might occasionally be coached during peak periods, 95% will now be able to disembark via a jetty or steps.

Gatwick says the £24 million investment in its South Terminal will ensure faster journey times through the airport.

It will benefit passengers arriving with Aurigny from Guernsey; British Airways from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Jersey; Aer Lingus from Dublin and Knock; and Ryanair from Cork, Shannon and Dublin.

Additionally, Gatwick has invested in new e-gates and biometric technology – including iris recognition – to speed up domestic departures.

Andy Pule, Gatwick’s head of terminal operations, said: “We are always looking for ways to improve the experience of passengers who travel through Gatwick, and this is a great example of how we invest in existing infrastructure to facilitate growth while also improving service for all.

“UK and Republic of Ireland passengers are frequent visitors to Gatwick and use the airport as a transit point into London, or to connect with the rest of the world.”