Animal Aircare Ltd — Gatwick Animal Reception Centre
Closed weekends & bank holidays
About This Facility
London Gatwick does have an Animal Reception Centre, operated by Animal Aircare Ltd in the World Cargo Centre on the airport perimeter. However it operates on weekdays only (Mon–Fri 07:30–17:00) and is closed on weekends and UK bank holidays — a significant limitation compared to Heathrow's HARC which operates 24/7.
For flights arriving outside those hours, or on weekends, pets cannot clear at Gatwick and must either be held overnight or rerouted through Heathrow. This is why many professional pet relocation agents default to Heathrow even for owners flying into Gatwick — always confirm your cat's cargo routing with your agent before booking.
Animal Aircare manages the Border Control Post (BCP) at Gatwick, handling APHA veterinary inspections and customs clearance. Collection typically takes around 2.5–3 hours from flight landing when all documentation is in order.
Physical Arrival Directions
The Gatwick ARC is run by Animal Aircare Ltd, located in the World Cargo Centre, Cargo Forecourt Road, Gatwick Airport, West Sussex RH6 0SQ. It is not in either passenger terminal — take a taxi from the South Terminal (public transport does not serve this area).
Bring your Air Waybill (AWB) number, photo ID, and all original pet documentation. Do not go to the ARC until your shipping agent confirms your cat is ready — clearance takes approximately 2.5–3 hours from flight landing.
If your cat has been rerouted to Heathrow HARC (e.g. weekend flight or agent preference), the HARC is approximately 45 minutes by road from Gatwick South Terminal. Take a taxi to Beacon Road, off the A30, near Terminal 4.
Practical Tips & What to Expect
The most important question to ask your pet agent: "What day and time does my cat's flight arrive, and will the Gatwick ARC be open?" If the flight lands on a weekend, bank holiday, or outside 07:30–17:00 weekdays, clearance at Gatwick is not possible and your cat will need to be rerouted through Heathrow.
Animal Aircare cannot do pre-clearance checks — clearance can only be issued on arrival once they have physically seen your pet and inspected the original documentation. Contact them in advance at office@animalaircare.co.uk or +44 (0) 1293 555580 to notify them of your arrival.
Pre-book a pet-friendly taxi that can accommodate a travel crate for collection. There is no public transport to the World Cargo Centre from either Gatwick terminal.