Roberta Aguirre
London is a bustling hub of international travel, with six major airports and several smaller airports serving the city and its surrounding areas. These airports collectively form the busiest airport system in the world by passenger numbers, handling a staggering 177 million passengers in 2018, which accounts for over 60% of the UK's air traffic. The six international airports in London are Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, Southend, and London City Airport, each offering unique features and benefits. Heathrow, located 23 kilometres west of London, is the largest and busiest airport in the UK, serving as a gateway for travellers outside of Europe and handling long-haul flights from all over the world. Gatwick, situated 47 kilometres south of Central London, is the second-busiest airport in the UK, offering connections to numerous destinations worldwide. Stansted, located in Essex, just outside London, is known for its focus on low-cost carriers, while Luton, north of London, is also popular among budget travellers. Southend, 40 miles from Central London, offers strong road connections, and London City Airport, the closest to Central London, is often used by business travellers. Each airport caters to diverse needs, serving the vast air traffic of London and beyond.
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What You'll Learn
- Heathrow Airport: the largest and busiest airport in London, with four or five terminals
- Gatwick Airport: London's second-largest airport, located in the south of London
- Stansted Airport: London's third-largest airport, located in Essex, with one terminal
- Luton Airport: a popular airport for budget travellers, located north of London
- London City Airport: a small airport closest to central London, with a single runway
Heathrow Airport: the largest and busiest airport in London, with four or five terminals
Heathrow Airport, originally founded in 1929 as a small airfield, is the largest and busiest airport in London, serving six continents around the world. It is the primary hub for British Airways and a base for Virgin Atlantic. The airport is served by the Elizabeth line, which connects it to central London.
Heathrow has four passenger terminals (numbered 2 to 5) and a cargo terminal. Each terminal has a multi-faith prayer room and counselling room, in addition to St. George's Interdenominational Chapel, where Christian services are held. The airport also has its own press corps, consisting of six photographers and one TV crew.
The airport's original design, by Sir Frederick Gibberd, included the current Terminal 2, which was built on the site of Heathrow Farm. The site has also been home to a 40% scale model of a British Airways Concorde, which was replaced by a model of an Emirates Airbus A380 in 2008.
Heathrow is the busiest single destination in passenger numbers, with over three million passengers flying between Heathrow and JFK Airport in New York in 2021. The airport served 19.4 million passengers in 2021, 17 million of whom were international, and 2.4 million domestic. Heathrow's busiest year on record was 2019, with 80.9 million passengers travelling through the airport.
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Gatwick Airport: London's second-largest airport, located in the south of London
London is served by six international airports, with several smaller airports also located in the area. Together, these airports form the busiest airport system in the world by passenger numbers. London's second-largest airport, Gatwick Airport, is located in West Sussex, just south of London. It is linked directly to the M23 at Junction 9 and to the A23 Brighton Road. Gatwick Airport is easily accessible by car, train, or coach. If travelling by train, the airport is just 30 minutes away from London's Victoria Railway Station via direct train. The airport also has its own official taxi partner, Airport Cars Gatwick, which operates out of both the North and South Terminals.
Gatwick Airport is the second-busiest airport in the United Kingdom, the eighth-busiest in Europe, and the second-busiest single-runway airport in the world. In 2018, 46.1 million passengers passed through the airport, a 1.1% increase from 2017. The airport handles flights to more destinations than any other UK airport and is the main base of easyJet, the UK's largest airline by number of passengers. Other airlines that use Gatwick Airport as a base include British Airways, Norse Atlantic Airways, TUI Airways, and Wizz Air.
The land on which Gatwick Airport stands was first developed as an aerodrome in the late 1920s. The Air Ministry approved commercial flights from the site in 1933, and the first terminal, "The Beehive", was built in 1935. During World War II, the airport was taken over by the military and was known as RAF Gatwick. After the war, the airport returned to its civilian function, and the current airport was built in the mid-1950s, opening in 1956. The airport buildings were designed by Yorke Rosenberg Mardall between 1955 and 1988.
Gatwick Airport offers a variety of food and drink options, as well as exclusive deals at World Duty Free, where travellers can enjoy 10% off leading brands.
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Stansted Airport: London's third-largest airport, located in Essex, with one terminal
Stansted Airport, located in Essex, is London's third-busiest airport. It is situated 42 miles (64km or 68km) northeast of Central London, near Stansted Mountfitchet, Uttlesford. Stansted Airport has one terminal building, with the Stansted Airport railway station situated directly below the main concourse.
The airport is a base for several European low-cost carriers, including being the largest base for Ryanair, serving over 150 destinations. It is also used by private companies such as Harrods Aviation, Titan Airways, and XJet terminals, which handle private flights, charter flights, and state visits. Stansted is the fourth-busiest airport in the United Kingdom, after Heathrow, Gatwick, and Manchester.
The history of Stansted Airport dates back to the post-World War II era, when British cargo airline London Aero and Motor Services began operations there in 1946. The Ministry of Civil Aviation took control of the airport in 1949, and it was used by various UK charter airlines. The US military returned in 1954 to extend the runway for a possible transfer to NATO, which ultimately did not occur, and the airport remained in civil use.
In the 1960s, Stansted was considered as a potential site for London's third airport, but it was not initially selected. However, in 1979, the Conservative government chose Stansted for long-term development, and redevelopment plans were approved in 1985. The airport was acquired by the Manchester Airports Group in 2013 for £1.5 billion, and an £80 million terminal redevelopment programme was launched.
Travelling to and from Stansted Airport, the Stansted Express train service is the quickest way to reach Central London, with a journey time of 47 minutes to London Liverpool Street. There are also coach services available, such as National Express and Airport Bus Express, which offer routes to major train and Tube stations in London. For travellers driving to the airport, short and long-stay car parks are available.
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Luton Airport: a popular airport for budget travellers, located north of London
London, one of the world's most-visited cities, is served by six international airports: Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, London City, and Southend. Each airport caters to a unique set of travelers and offers its own advantages. Luton Airport, in particular, has become a popular choice for budget travelers and those seeking convenient access to northern London and beyond.
Located about 30 miles north of central London, Luton Airport is known for its affordability and ease of access to the city. The airport is situated in the town of Luton, providing a gateway to not only London but also the surrounding areas of Bedfordshire and the East of England. Luton Airport is well-connected to the national road and rail networks, making it a convenient option for those seeking cost-effective travel without compromising on location and connectivity.
One of the key advantages of Luton Airport is its focus on low-cost carriers. Budget airlines such as easyJet, Wizz Air, and Ryanair have a significant presence at the airport, offering travelers a range of affordable flight options to various European destinations. This makes Luton Airport particularly popular among leisure travelers, students, and those seeking cost-effective travel solutions. The airport also caters to a number of charter airlines, further enhancing its appeal to travelers seeking value for money.
In terms of accessibility, Luton Airport is well-served by public transport. The Thameslink rail service connects the airport to London St. Pancras International in as little as 22 minutes, offering a fast and efficient way to reach the heart of the city. Additionally, regular bus and coach services, including the National Express, provide direct links to central London and other major towns and cities in the region, ensuring that travelers on a budget can easily access the airport. For those arriving by car, the airport offers parking options, and its location near the M1 motorway facilitates convenient road travel to and from London and the surrounding areas.
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London City Airport: a small airport closest to central London, with a single runway
London is served by six international airports and several smaller airports, making it the busiest airport system in the world by passenger numbers. London City Airport (IATA: LCY, ICAO: EGLC) is one of the six major London airports, along with London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Luton, London Stansted, and London Southend. London City Airport is the closest airport to central London, located just 9.5km (6 miles) east of central London and 4.8km (3 miles) from Canary Wharf. It is situated in the Royal Docks in the Borough of Newham, about 6 miles (10 kilometres) east of the City of London. The airport is easily accessible by Tube, bus, taxi, or train, with its own London City Airport DLR station on a branch of the Docklands Light Railway. The Docklands Light Railway is the UK's first fully accessible railway for wheelchair users, with step-free access and designated wheelchair areas on all trains.
London City Airport is a relatively small airport, covering an area of about 60 hectares (150 acres) as of 2020. It has a single runway, which is 1,508 metres (4,948 feet) long, and a steep approach at a 5.5° angle (compared to the usual 3 degrees). Due to its size and the short length of its runway, only multi-engine, fixed-wing aircraft up to Embraer E195-E2, Airbus A220, and A318 size are allowed to operate at the airport. The airport also has strict noise limitations and other restrictions, which further limit the types of aircraft that can use it.
The airport was first proposed in 1981 by Reg Ward, the Chief Executive of the London Docklands Development Corporation (LDDC), and developed by the engineering company Mowlem between 1986 and 1987. The airport site initially covered 37 hectares (92 acres) and the first aircraft landed on 31 May 1987, with the first commercial services operating from 26 October 1987. Queen Elizabeth II officially opened London City Airport in November 1987. In its first full year of operation in 1988, the airport handled 133,000 passengers, with the earliest scheduled flights to and from Plymouth, Paris, Amsterdam, and Rotterdam.
Over the years, London City Airport has expanded and passenger numbers have grown significantly. By 1995, passenger numbers reached half a million, and in 2005, the airport was purchased by a consortium comprising insurer AIG Financial Products and Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP). In 2016, it was bought by a Canadian-led consortium of AIMCo, OMERS, the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, and Wren House Infrastructure Management of the Kuwait Investment Authority. As of 2019, the airport handled 5.1 million passenger movements, making it the fifth-busiest airport in the London area after Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, and Luton.
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Frequently asked questions
London's six airports are Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, Southend, and London City Airport.
Heathrow Airport is the largest airport in London and the UK. It is located around 23 kilometres west of London and is the main hub for British Airways. It has four terminals and two runways.
Gatwick Airport is the second-largest airport in London and the UK. It is located 24 miles south of London city centre and has two terminals, North and South.
London City Airport is the closest airport to central London. It is located in the London Borough of Newham, around four miles from Canary Wharf.
