Gatwick Airport operates two completely separate terminals about 1 mile apart. The North Terminal and South Terminal each have their own check-in areas, security lanes, departure gates, shops and drop-off zones. Arriving at the wrong one means at least 10 minutes on the free shuttle transit, and real stress if you are close to check-in closing.
The fastest way to confirm your terminal is to check your boarding pass or e-ticket, which states North or South clearly. Airlines occasionally switch terminals, so check close to departure rather than relying on memory from a previous trip. If you are coming from Buckinghamshire, our fixed-price Aylesbury to Gatwick taxi drops you at whichever terminal your airline uses for the same price.
Which airlines use Gatwick South Terminal?
The South Terminal is the older and slightly larger of the two, with more retail and dining and the railway station directly beneath it. It handles British Airways and most long-haul carriers.
- British Airways — all British Airways flights at Gatwick
- Jet2 — launched at Gatwick from the South Terminal in March 2026
- Wizz Air — all Gatwick routes
- Vueling — Barcelona and Spanish connections
- Ryanair — Gatwick routes
- TAP Air Portugal — Lisbon and onward connections
- easyJet — a small number of flights only (most easyJet is North — check your boarding pass)
- TUI — some routes (TUI uses both terminals — check your boarding pass)
The South Terminal has the Gatwick Express station beneath it, connecting to London Victoria in about 30 minutes. All Gatwick trains — Gatwick Express, Thameslink and Southern — arrive at the South Terminal, so rail passengers flying from the North take the free shuttle across.
Which airlines use Gatwick North Terminal?
The North Terminal was expanded more recently and is the main base for easyJet, which runs its largest operation anywhere from Gatwick. It is built around a single large security hall and handles several long-haul carriers alongside the easyJet short-haul network.
- easyJet — the majority of its Gatwick flights (a few use South — check your boarding pass)
- Emirates — Dubai services
- Qatar Airways — Doha and onward connections
- WestJet — Canada routes
- Air Transat — Canada routes
Airline terminal assignments verified May 2026 against London Gatwick and airline sources. Note that Virgin Atlantic and Norwegian no longer operate from Gatwick. Carriers can change terminal — always confirm on your boarding pass.
North vs South Terminal — which is better?
For a departing passenger, neither terminal is "better" — you simply use the one your airline flies from, and you cannot choose. That said, there are differences worth knowing:
- South Terminal — older, slightly larger, more shops and restaurants, and the train station sits directly beneath it. Busier at peak times.
- North Terminal — more recently expanded, generally calmer, with a large single security hall. Reached from the rail station by the free shuttle.
From a door-to-terminal taxi point of view there is no difference at all: an Aylesbury to Gatwick transfer is the same fixed price for either terminal, and your driver routes to the correct one.
How to transfer between Gatwick terminals
The two terminals are connected by a free shuttle transit (an automated people-mover) that departs every few minutes and takes around 2 to 3 minutes to travel between them. Including walking time, allow about 10 minutes for an inter-terminal transfer.
The shuttle operates 24 hours, is free in both directions, and departs from within each terminal building — follow the signs for Inter-terminal transit.
How to confirm your Gatwick terminal
- Check your boarding pass or e-ticket — the terminal name appears on your airline booking confirmation
- Use the Gatwick terminal tool — the airline finder at gatwickairport.com confirms your terminal by airline
- Check your airline app — most apps display the terminal after online check-in
- Tell your driver when booking — Gatwick has separate vehicle access roads for North and South. Your driver routes directly to the correct drop-off
Drop-off at Gatwick — North vs South
South Terminal drop-off is accessed from the main Gatwick approach, directly in front of the terminal building.
North Terminal drop-off is accessed via a separate road off the airport loop, in front of the North Terminal building.
Like most major UK airports, Gatwick charges a forecourt drop-off fee, so confirm your terminal before the journey — changing terminal mid-journey adds time and is not always straightforward on Gatwick's access roads.
Up to 4 passengers, estate. No meter, no surge, no surcharge for the terminal you choose. View Gatwick route details →