The move by Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) to purchase Gatwick Airport has been met with mixed response but the group has promised to make extensive improvements.

Already the owners of London City Airport, GIP has promised passengers and improved airport experience after announcing their purchase for £1.51 billion of the world’s busiest single runway airport.

According to GIP they will modernise and upgrade the airport and hope to transform the airport experience for leisure and business travellers alike. The group has pointed to their success in operating London City airport as an indicator of their commitment and has claimed that they will be working closely with the airlines themselves to provide best performance.

Airline executives have welcomed the move but also warned that they expect high standards of operation at Gatwick which is crucial to the UK travel industry. The ABTA said GIP would be obliged to maintain a high level of professionalism as befitting any international airport.

A spokesperson from HolidayExtras.com claimed that his company has in the past has an excellent relationship with Gatwick Airport which generated some £40 million each year.

Gatwick Airport hosts some 32 million passengers annually.