London Gatwick Airport has become the first airport in the United Kingdom to offer robotic parking. The new service lets passengers leave their vehicle in a private drop-off cabin while autonomous robots handle the parking. Car owners do not need to surrender their keys.
The service launched in partnership with Stanley Robotics and is now available for advance booking. The first customer journeys are scheduled for August 2026. The technology removes the need to search for a parking space, getting passengers from their car to the terminal faster while making better use of the airport's parking capacity.
How Gatwick's Robotic Parking Works
Instead of driving around a car park looking for an empty spot, passengers drive into a private enclosed cabin near the South Terminal and scan their booking. After parking the vehicle inside the cabin, they leave the car and keep their keys. A Stanley Robotics autonomous parking robot then slides underneath the vehicle, lifts it by its tyres, and transports it to a secure storage area.
Passengers provide their return flight details during the booking process. The system monitors their arrival and has the vehicle waiting in a collection cabin when they return. The facility is within walking distance of the South Terminal, though a free shuttle bus is also available.
No Need to Hand Over Your Keys
Unlike traditional valet parking, passengers retain possession of their keys throughout their trip. According to London Gatwick, this offers additional peace of mind while the automated system handles parking and retrieval. If passengers accidentally leave an essential item in the vehicle after drop-off, on-site staff will be available to retrieve emergency items.
Helping Airports Use Parking Space More Efficiently
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Robotic parking systems are designed to improve the customer experience while also maximising the number of vehicles that can be stored within a given footprint. Because no one needs to access the vehicles once parked, cars can be positioned much closer together than in a conventional car park. This helps airports increase parking capacity without building additional parking infrastructure.
Stanley Robotics has deployed similar systems internationally. The Gatwick installation is its first deployment at a UK airport.
Supporting Gatwick's Future Growth
Oli Bedford, Head of Airport Access, Marketing and Commercial Products at London Gatwick, described the service as "a real game-changer." "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," Bedford said.
Stanley Robotics CEO Clément Boussard said the technology would help address future parking demand as the airport continues to grow. "We are 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," Boussard said. "This project marks a major milestone for Stanley Robotics in the UK, and we are proud to bring our innovative technology to one of the world's most forward-thinking airports."
Gatwick Robotic Parking Vehicle Requirements
The robotic parking service at Gatwick is available for most standard passenger cars, subject to the following limits: maximum weight of 2.6 tonnes, maximum height of 2.3 metres, maximum wheelbase of 3.3 metres, and maximum wheel diameter of 21 inches. The service must be booked in advance. Same-day drive-up parking is not available.