London Gatwick has become the first airport in the UK to introduce robotic parking, offering travellers a faster, stress‑free way to start their journey. The new service, created in partnership with Stanley Robotics, is now on sale and will welcome its first passengers this August .
The concept is simple: drivers pull into a private drop‑off cabin, scan their booking and walk away — keeping their keys with them for extra peace of mind . From there, autonomous robots lift the car by its tyres and park it securely, ready to return it to a cabin when the passenger arrives back from their trip .
Located near Gatwick’s South Terminal, the facility is designed to get travellers from car to check‑in quickly, with the option to walk or take a free shuttle bus to the terminal . The system also uses return flight details to ensure cars are ready as soon as passengers land, reducing waiting times and smoothing the end of the journey .
Oli Bedford, Gatwick’s Head of Airport Access, called the service a “real game‑changer,” highlighting its speed, simplicity and the reassurance of keeping your keys throughout your trip . Stanley Robotics CEO Clément Boussard said the partnership marks a major milestone for the company as Gatwick prepares for significant growth and increasing parking demand .
The robotic parking system must be booked in advance, and is suitable for most standard‑sized cars within specific size and weight limits .
With this launch, Gatwick continues its investment in technology that makes airport travel easier, quicker and more enjoyable and robotic parking is set to become one of the most futuristic additions yet.
