Gatwick Airport has in recent years been regarded as the poor relation of London airports... but that is all going to change.

The Airport is sprucing up its image and its customer experience... by spending a cool £1 Billion on its facilities. And that is good news for the thousands of Northern Ireland travellers who use the airport each week, flying from both Belfast International and Belfast City Airports.

Gatwick is now one of the top ten international airports in the world and the second largest in the UK after Heathrow with around 90 carriers carrying more than 33 million passengers a year to more than 200 destinations.

Under the ownership of Global Infrastructure Partners - which also owns London CityAirport - since December 2009, Gatwick says it is seizing the opportunity to bring real competition to the London airports market. A £1 billion investment programme will be in place by 2013, creating new, modern facilities and a better experience for passengers at every step of their journey through the airport.

Already, passengers flying through Gatwick are able to enjoy the new state-of-the-art inter-terminal shuttle, which provides a fast and comfortable journey between the North and South terminals. At check-in there are more self-service facilities and at security, there is a Fast Track service, a priority route for first and business class passengers, which streamlines the departure process and includes specially designated car parks, check-in desks, passport control and security desks. Gatwick passengers are now clearing security in fewer than five minutes - 95 per cent of the time.

There is also great shopping, with nearly 60 retail outlets and eateries in both terminals, including some of the world's best known brands such as Harrods; Hamleys, Hugo Boss and Nike, together with a wide selection of catering and specialist shops.

Stewart Wingate, CEO of Gatwick Airport, said: "We put passengers first. Everything we do is designed to make their journey faster, easier and more enjoyable. We're investing £1 billion in new, modern facilities that will help Gatwick to become London's airport of choice."