London Gatwick is proposing the first-ever robot parking service at any United Kingdom airport, in a move officials are describing as a “game-changer” for passengers, allowing them to drop their vehicles off to be parked by robots in a secure location and safely delivered back on their return.
Gatwick Airport Robotic Parking is due to be available at the South Terminal, where a drop-off zone is provided. The concept sees passengers leave their cars behind, but keep their keys, while robots resembling forklift technology will lift the vehicles by their wheels, removing them to an “access-restricted” parking area.
The partnership with Stanley Robotics has been hailed by Oli Bedford, head of airport access, marketing and commercial products at London Gatwick, as “a real game-changer for our passengers. It’s quick, easy and completely hassle-free – and you even get to keep your keys, giving extra peace of mind while you’re enjoying your holiday.”
The system creates a digital, real-time image of the parking compound, communicating with the robots to tell them which cars to pick up and where to park them. It also optimises vehicle flows so that cars are picked up and delivered where and when they are needed.
Important features include the system’s high vehicle compatibility rates, allowing it to work with “around 95% of vehicle models.” Passengers whose cars have “unusual dimensions or features” are advised to check whether the service is suitable.
We're excited to launch the UK's first robotic airport parking service at London Gatwick, in partnership with Stanley Robotics! 🤖
— London Gatwick LGW (@Gatwick_Airport) July 23, 2026
Designed to make the start of journeys smoother, passengers can simply drive into a dedicated drop-off cabin, park their car, keep their keys and… pic.twitter.com/4IqGWB1ubD
The on-airport parking location used by the service features 24-hour security patrols, allows no public access, boasts ANPR-controlled entry and exit, and is a floodlit site with perimeter fencing and Park Mark Safer Parking approval, according to PR materials. The service is also claimed to be “fully accessible and compliant with the Equality Act 2010.”
Users can either travel by foot between the airport terminals and the parking drop-off and pick-up areas, or use a shuttle bus—which is also “fully accessible,” the service website says.
The move comes as Gatwick continues to work on major capacity-boosting projects, including the Northern Runway and a Pier 6 Extension to add eight new aircraft stands for higher gate throughput by summer 2027.
Stanley Robotics has previously worked on similar airport parking solutions for Basel Mulhouse Airport and Lyon Airport, both in France. Clément Boussard, Chief Executive Officer of Stanley Robotics, said in a statement that the firm is “thrilled to partner with London Gatwick, a global leader in aviation, to deploy our solution and address their critical parking capacity challenges as they prepare for significant growth.”
