Image source, Getty Images

We are going to wrap up our live coverage from behind the scenes at Gatwick Airport as the summer getaway begins.

Here is a recap of some of the issues we've covered today:

• We've seen how staff are working behind the scenes to keep operations running smoothly during the busy period
• We've heard from a Gatwick boss on how passengers will be able to fly to more than 230 destinations across a record 63 airlines from the hub.
• But we've also heard from a travel consultant who says many holidaymakers were "a bit scared" to travel further afield given the uncertainty in the Middle East and oil prices

• We've seen how Gatwick Airport and the government are planning to bring a second runway into use, but also that the scheme has been met with opposition from campaigners

• Motorists travelling to Gatwick have been warned over rogue parking operators scamming passengers
• But they are also being provided with a new service to help parking at the airport later this summer - "Robot valets"

Finally, we hope that you have enjoyed our live streaming from the main runway!

Thank you for joining us today

Leila Hall, from south London, is flying back to her homeland of Mauritius with her family to celebrate her 50th birthday.

She's planning a party on the beach with dozens of friends and relatives.

"I'm super excited, I can't believe it's come," she says.

Charlene Oke adds: "This has been in the group chat for a very long time. We've made it out of the group chat and now we're going."

Image source, Keir Mackenzie

Several passengers heading to Fuerteventura say they have not encountered any problems at the airport despite a busy week.

Trent Brewerton says he is not worried about fears about delays from the European Union's new border Entry/Exit System (EES), adding he will deal with any issues if they do come up.

The new rules require UK travellers to register fingerprints and a photo alongside a passport scan, replacing the manual stamping of passports.

There have been warnings of the potential for long queues at European airports because of the new system.

Holidaymaker Ian Carter says he has flown to several airports in Europe and has not had issues with EES delays.

Clare Petty agrees, adding security screening at Gatwick has been quick and with no hassles.

You can find out more about the impact of EES in this explainer.

According to NATS, which manages air traffic control at Gatwick, preparations for the summer happens year-round.

"Everybody wants to go on holiday - the travel industry has grown over the years," says Jo Crawford, who manages Gatwick's air traffic control on a day-to-day basis.

"As we return to pre-pandemic levels as well here at Gatwick, we're seeing the traffic levels increase.

"It's important that we're here to ensure that everybody can get to their destination, primarily safely - that's our most important role - but then also efficiently."

Image source, Keir Mackenzie

Glenn Bradley, head of flight operations at the UK Civil Aviation Authority advises travellers to think about how they are packing their luggage, particularly lithium batteries.

"Passengers should always carry them in the cabin, not in checked baggage," he said.

He warns they can overheat and catch fire. making incidents in the hold harder to deal with.

"If that happens in the cabin, let the cabin crew know," he says

"If it happens in the hold it’s a far more difficult problem to deal with."

Image source, Getty Images

Gareth Jones from the AA says there are more people planning to make journeys by road this summer.

He claims the rise in jet fuel prices has "put a lot of people off flying this summer".

"People may be going to those shorter haul destinations but the longer haul destinations they've cancelled or they haven't booked at all," he tells BBC Radio Sussex.

Recent heatwaves have encouraged people to "go out and sample what the British Isles has to offer" as well, he says.

Image source, Keir Mackenzie

Jonny Macneal, head of aviation development at Gatwick, says travellers will be able to fly to more than 230 destinations across a record 63 airlines from the hub.

He says the airport expects millions of passengers over the summer holidays - and his colleagues are working to ensure passengers have a smooth journey.

Starting from 2025, passengers no longer need to remove electrical items or place liquids in plastic bags while going through security at Gatwick.

Did you know that air traffic controllers are only trained to work at their own airport?

If NATS staff wish to move airport they have to undergo further location-specific training, which can take many months.

Air traffic controllers work in morning and afternoon shifts. They cannot work more than 90 minutes without a break due to the pressures of the role.

If you’re just joining us, here’s a recap of our coverage today:

• We’ve heard from the teams working to keep Gatwick running smoothly
• Air traffic control staff have been looking forward to the busy summer
• We’ve looked at Gatwick’s expansion plans and heard from the campaigners who oppose them
• Not everyone is jetting off in search of sun this year – some are put off by prices, uncertainty and the allure of staycations

Our live feed from Gatwick’s main runway can be viewed at the top of the page.

We will be streaming live from Gatwick Airport at 17:00 BST – filming on a rooftop as planes take off and land on the main runway.

You can view the feed at the top of this page.

Louise says she is "fine at flying" but that her boyfriend Dan would say she's "an anxious traveller" as she's arranged for them to be at the airport "super early".

The couple, from Bromley in London, are heading to Belfast for a wedding.

"I've never been there before so we're looking forward to it," Louise says.

Gatwick and others issued warnings earlier this month about rogue parking operators taking advantage of airport passengers.

The BBC joined a team from the airport, West Sussex Trading Standards and police in search of fraudulent services in early July, with about 150 vehicles found next to a scrapyard.

One holidaymaker told the BBC she needed the help of the police to locate her car after a parking operator failed to return it after a trip to Italy.

Others have returned home to find their cars had just been left at the airport short stay car park, where they picked up a fine.

Image source, PA Media

Lisa Francesca Nand, a travel journalist from Hove, says the weather can have "a huge impact" on whether holidaymakers opt to stay in the UK.

"That's why people are now booking their holidays later," she tells BBC Radio Sussex.

"They know that at the moment we've got beautiful countryside and beautiful weather here."

Image source, Getty Images

We've heard earlier about apprehension from holidaymakers about rising costs and disruption from conflict in the Middle East.

But Phil Ward, the chief operations officer at airline Jet2, remains optimistic for the summer.

"We might see changes in people's durations or the numbers of holidays people take a year," he tells BBC Radio Sussex at Gatwick Airport.

"But at the moment, I think post the World Cup, people are definitely wanting to get away and have a holiday before coming back in September."

Let us know your summer plans. Have you managed to find a good deal or had to change your plans due to travel uncertainty?

Are you avoiding the airport and staying in the UK this year?

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Later this summer, Gatwick passengers will be able to make use of “robot valets” for the first time in the UK.

This will see an autonomous robot park up cars for people rushing for their flights.

Oliver Bedford, an executive at the airport, says passengers “basically turn up, you drive into a private cabin, you drop your car off”.

A robot will then park your car “securely” while you are away then deliver it back to a cabin ahead of your arrival home.

“For the whole time you keep your keys, you have peace of mind that your car is safe and secure with our robots,” Bedford says.

Gatwick Airport is the UK's second busiest airport by passenger numbers, including transiting passengers.

"The baggage system runs 20 hours a day, 365, so it's intense," says senior engineering manager Stevie Summers.

He's responsible for the machinery that gets passengers' bags to the right aircraft at the right time. His team has 4,000 individual conveyor belts to contend with.

The team plan for higher demand in the summer months in an attempt to make sure that, even on a bad day, "it's seamless and you don't notice".

"We drill ourselves to be ready for the worst day possible so everyone takes pride in what they do, and it's stressful, but it's why we're here," Summers says.

A team of nine people are responsible for safely maintaining the airfield at Gatwick Airport around the clock.

Airfield operations controller Danyell Wickham says the airport sees up to 900 aircraft movements a day during summer months.

"We also need to make sure that we get maintenance done in certain areas, so it's just making sure that everything lines up,” she says.

"The fact that we can take so many movements on a single runway is amazing, everyone works so well together, so it's really rewarding."

Claudia Marlowe is co-owner of the Paskins Town House guesthouse in Brighton and says they have seen guests from near and far this summer.

Many Brits are coming to the seaside city to save money over a holiday abroad, she tells BBC Radio Sussex, but "it's also cheaper for Europeans to come here".

"We've got the festivals all going on on the beach as well, so it's a really joyous time of year for Brighton in general," she says.