Gatwick Airport Credit: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire/Press Association Images
The pair were detained after arriving back at the West Sussex airport on an easyJet flight from Palma, Majorca, at around 2pm yesterday, Sussex Police said.
The suspects, both aged 33, were held on suspicion of theft, fraud by false representation, handling stolen goods, causing a public nuisance and money laundering.
Police said the men - one from Enfield, north London, and the other who gave no address - were questioned and then freed on police bail until August 28.
The arrests came days after an alert at the airport's North Terminal short-stay car park was caused by a suspicious van which was apparently dumped there last Wednesday.
Bomb disposal experts who carried out a number of small, controlled explosions to gain access to the van found it posed no terrorist threat and contained old car parts and scrap metal.
Suspicions were first raised about the seemingly well-loaded vehicle as it was higher than the permitted height for the car park. Police said it would have required someone to lift the maximum headroom barrier that guards the entrance.
Alarm bells were further raised when routine checks found the van to be unregistered, untaxed and uninsured. And then a check with the firm whose name was on the van showed it had disposed of it six months ago.
Police called an explosive ordnance disposal unit to make a closer inspection and a pre-planned response swung into action involving airport operators, ambulance and fire services.
But when the small blasts allowed investigators to take a look inside the van, nothing sinister was discovered and resources and restrictions were stood down.
Gatwick track-side fire causing severe delays for commuters
Travellers are being faced with severe delays and cancellations after a track-side fire at Gatwick Airport has left two of the four tracks out of use.
The fire happened at 5.15pm and was extinguished by rail workers.
Commuters are being advised to check here at the National Rail Enquiries website or to contact the train company to see if their journey will be affected.
Bomb disposal experts were drafted in to the airport at around 5pm and several controlled explosions were carried out between 7pm and 8.30pm to gain access to the van.
Inspector Gary Medland, of Gatwick Police, said:
"We are aware that the closure of the car park caused some disruption to people travelling to and from the North Terminal by vehicle, but this was a most unusual event and the safety of those visiting and working at the airport must take priority.
"However, working with the airport operator we were able to ensure that other areas of the airport were, in the main, unaffected by the incident and flights continued as normal.
"There is nothing to link the vehicle with terrorist activity and there is a strong possibility that the two men dumped the van as they headed for a flight.
"Inquiries are under way to establish whether this was the case and we are obviously very keen to talk to the men involved."
