Gatwick has announced the appointment of Bechtel to deliver the airport’s largest single investment as part of its continued commitment to transform and grow sustainably.

As part of its current five-year capital investment programme, Gatwick will invest a total of £180 million to more than double the size of Pier 6 in the North Terminal.

Once complete, the project will ensure service levels and even greater operational efficiency in response to continued record-breaking growth of the airport.

Construction will begin once two major enabling projects are completed.

These include moving the stand for the world’s largest commercial aircraft, the A380, from its existing location on Pier 6 to a newly created stand on Pier 5, and widening and re-aligning a taxiway to enable the A380 to move between the runway and its new stand so as to accommodate its 80-metre wing-span.

Gatwick will build the Pier 6 extension under a construction management delivery model.

Bechtel has been appointed because of its global expertise in delivering construction projects within complex working environments.

Bechtel will be responsible for the management of engineering, procurement and construction works and will be integrated alongside Gatwick’s construction and development teams.

Gatwick construction director, Raymond Melee, said: “This is one of the most important programmes of work we have in our current capital investment programme as it will give a crucial boost to our operational efficiency and help us to grow sustainably.

“It will be complex, as it is right in the heart of our airfield, but we are experienced in delivering complicated projects in challenging environments at Gatwick.

“We are grateful for the partnership with Bechtel whose experience will be invaluable.

“We look forward to our teams working side-by-side as we deliver a world class project while not compromising the airport experience for our passenger.”

Gatwick and Bechtel are planning for works to start in 2018.

The programme will be run in four phases, the last of which will be the building of the western extension of Pier 6 itself.

It is due to be operational by the first quarter of 2022.

Gatwick is more than half way through a £2.7 billion programme of investment to transform the airport at every touch point for passengers (landside, terminals, and airside).

Bechtel UK managing director, Paul Gibbs, said: “This appointment is a positive reflection of our partnership with Gatwick Airport.

“We know that construction in the middle of a very busy airfield can be complex, so we will be working alongside Gatwick’s operational teams to ensure the work is sequenced carefully and that the passenger experience is maintained throughout.”

Pier 6 follows major transformation projects such as the re-development of the North Terminal, and the newly constructed Pier 1, as well as major works on Pier 5 to create a second level.