London's Air Gateway: Airports Of England's Capital

what are the london england airports

London, England is served by six international airports and several smaller airports, making it the busiest airport system in the world by passenger numbers. The six major airports are London Heathrow, London Gatwick, London Stansted, London Luton, London City, and London Southend. These airports handle over 60% of all the UK's air traffic, serving 14 domestic and 396 international destinations. London Heathrow is the busiest airport in the UK, located about 15-20 miles from Central London. London City Airport is the closest airport to Central London, situated in London's Docklands, four miles from Canary Wharf.

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Heathrow Airport

Heathrow is easily accessible from Central London via the Elizabeth line, and there are also coach services available. The airport offers a range of facilities for travellers, including cafes, pubs, restaurants, and shopping options. It also provides transport links and road routes to various destinations in the UK, such as the journey to Paddington, which takes around 15 minutes.

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Gatwick Airport

London Gatwick Airport, located in West Sussex just south of London, is the second-busiest airport in the United Kingdom, the eighth-busiest in Europe, and the second-busiest single-runway airport in the world. It 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 as a base include British Airways, Norse Atlantic Airways, TUI Airways, and Wizz Air. In 2018, 46.1 million passengers passed through the airport, a 1.1% increase compared to 2017.

The airport buildings were designed by Yorke Rosenberg Mardall between 1955 and 1988. The land on which Gatwick Airport stands was first developed as an aerodrome in the late 1920s, with commercial flights approved in 1933. The first terminal, "The Beehive", was built in 1935, and scheduled air services began the following year. During World War II, the airport was taken over by the military and was known as RAF Gatwick. After the war, the airport resumed its civilian operations, and the current airport was built in the mid-1950s, opening in 1956.

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London City Airport

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 first aircraft landed on 31 May 1987, with the first commercial services operating from 26 October 1987. In 1988, the first full year of operation, the airport handled 133,000 passengers. Early destinations included Plymouth, Paris, Amsterdam, and Rotterdam.

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Luton Airport

London Luton Airport (IATA: LTN, ICAO: EGGW) is an international airport located in Luton, Bedfordshire, England, around 1.7 miles (2.7 km) east of Luton town centre. It is one of London's six international airports and is the fourth-largest and fifth-busiest airport serving London and the United Kingdom respectively. The airport is owned by London Luton Airport Limited, a company wholly owned by Luton Borough Council, and operated by London Luton Airport Operations Limited (LLAOL).

London Luton Airport has one terminal building, which features shops, restaurants, a currency exchange, and an onward travel centre. The airport serves as a base for several airlines, including easyJet, TUI Airways, Ryanair, and Wizz Air, and offers flights to over 145 destinations, mainly within Europe, but also including some in North Africa and Asia. The airport is easily accessible by public transport, with the Luton DART providing a dedicated rail link to Luton Airport Parkway station in just four minutes. From there, frequent trains connect to central London, with journey times starting from 22 minutes.

The history of Luton Airport dates back to 16 July 1938, when Luton Municipal Airport was opened. During World War II, the airport was used by the Royal Air Force, and commercial activity resumed in 1952. In the 1960s, Luton Airport played a significant role in the development of the package holiday business, with a fifth of all holiday flights from the UK departing from the airport by 1969. The airport experienced a period of rapid growth in the 1990s, with the arrival of new operators and low-cost scheduled flights, leading to a significant increase in passenger numbers.

London Luton Airport offers a range of facilities and services for travellers, including car hire options, short-term and long-term car parks, and licensed taxi services. The airport also provides assistance and support for passengers who need special assistance. With its convenient location and accessibility, London Luton Airport is a popular choice for budget travellers flying into and out of London.

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Stansted Airport

The airport has one main passenger terminal, which opened in 1991, with three passenger satellites containing the departure gates. The terminal building was designed by Foster and Partners and is considered influential for airport architecture. Stansted Airport's railway station is situated in the terminal building, directly below the main concourse. Services to Central London are on the Stansted Express train to and from London Liverpool Street, with a journey time of 47 minutes. The Stansted Express also welcomes travellers with specific needs or disabilities and provides an Assisted Travel service. National Express operates more than 200 daily buses on four lines between Stansted Airport and London, with routes stopping at major stations such as Victoria Coach Station, Liverpool Street, and King's Cross.

Frequently asked questions

The six major airports in London, England are Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, London City Airport, and London Southend Airport.

London City Airport is the closest airport to Central London. It is located in the London Borough of Newham, about 4 miles from Canary Wharf.

Heathrow Airport is the busiest airport in London and the UK. It is also one of the world's busiest airports, servicing more than 80 airlines from across the world.

Luton Airport is a popular option for budget travellers, with airlines such as Ryanair, easyJet, and Wizz Air offering affordable flights.

All of London's six main airports are connected to Central London by public transport. For example, you can take the London Underground to Heathrow Airport, the Gatwick Express train to Gatwick Airport, or the Stansted Express train to Stansted Airport.

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