Roberta Aguirre
Gatwick Airport, located 45km south of London, is the second-busiest airport in the UK and one of Europe's top 10. It is accessible by road, train, taxi, and coach. The airport offers flights to over 200 destinations worldwide, served by more than 40 airlines. With over 40 million passengers expected in 2023, Gatwick Airport is a vital piece of national infrastructure, driving both the regional and national economy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | South of London |
| Year of opening | 1958 |
| Ownership | Majority-owned by VINCI Airports (50.01%) and a group of investors managed by Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) |
| Number of terminals | 2 (North and South) |
| Accessibility | Motorway spur road at junction 9A of the M23, A23 Brighton road, A217 to Reigate, train services to London Victoria station and other stations, taxi services, and bus/coach services |
| Destinations | Over 200 worldwide, including more than 45 long-haul |
| Airlines | easyJet, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic (ceased operations in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic), Wizz Air, and more |
| Passenger traffic | Over 40 million expected in 2023, with a goal of 45 million |
| Environmental initiatives | Level 4+ 'Transition' carbon accreditation, ACI Eco Innovation Award for Environmental Excellence |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Location and transport links
Gatwick Airport is located just south of London and is easily accessible by train, car, or coach. The airport is connected to the M23 motorway at Junction 9 and to the A23 Brighton road. The M23 links to London's orbital motorway, the M25, 9 miles (14 km) north, providing access to much of Greater London, the South East, and beyond. The A217 provides access to the town of Reigate to the north, while the A23 serves Horley, Redhill, Crawley, and Brighton.
Gatwick Airport has excellent train connections, with a train departing every four minutes on average. The airport's train station is located at the South Terminal, just a five-minute walk from both departures and arrivals. A free shuttle service connects the South Terminal to the North Terminal in just two minutes. Thameslink, Gatwick Express, and Southern trains provide direct connections to several central London stations, including London Victoria, London Bridge, and St Pancras International. Gatwick Express trains to London Victoria take around 30 minutes, while Thameslink trains to St Pancras International take around 75 minutes.
For those travelling by coach, National Express, Airline, and Flixbus offer direct services between Gatwick and Heathrow. Gatwick Airport's official taxi partner, Airport Cars Gatwick, operates from both the North and South Terminals.
Gatwick Airport also has good cycle accessibility, with a national cycle route running through the airport.
Airport Security and Binders: What You Need to Know
You may want to see also
Explore related products
History and development
Gatwick Airport, located 45 km (28 miles) south of London, is the second busiest airport in the UK. The airport has two terminals, the North Terminal and the South Terminal, with 65 total gates. It is accessible from junction 9A of the M23 motorway, which links to the M25 motorway, providing access to London, the South East, and beyond. The airport also has direct train services to London, with the Gatwick Express offering a 30-minute nonstop journey to London Victoria station.
The history of Gatwick Airport can be traced back to the late 1920s when the land was first developed as an aerodrome. In the early 1930s, it was known as the Surrey Aero Club, a small flyers club. In 1933, the airfield was sold to Morris Jackaman, who envisioned developing it into an airport for scheduled services. The airport was licensed as a public aerodrome in 1934, providing regular air services to Paris and serving as a relief aerodrome for London Croydon Airport. The first terminal, the Beehive, was built in 1935 and featured a unique circular design, earning its name from its resemblance to a beehive. The Beehive's first scheduled flight took off for Paris in 1936.
During World War II, Gatwick Airport was requisitioned by the Air Ministry and served as a base for RAF night fighters and an army cooperation squadron. After the war, in 1946, the airport was decommissioned but continued operating as a civil airport for charter airlines and cargo flights. In 1958, the new Gatwick was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II, becoming the world's first airport with a direct train link. The airport quickly attracted a diverse range of airlines, including British, European, American, African, and Caribbean carriers.
Over the years, Gatwick Airport has undergone significant developments and expansions. In the 1960s, British United Airways (BUA) and Dan-Air were the two largest independent airlines operating at Gatwick. In 1964, the airport extended its runway to 2,500 meters, and by 1965, it boasted three piers nearly 300 meters long and a substantial terminal floor area. The airport continued to grow, and in 1974, it became part of the borough of Crawley. In 1984, Gatwick opened its new air traffic control tower, the tallest in the UK at the time, and Concorde started flying commercial flights from the airport in 1985.
In the 1980s, following the takeover of BUA by Caledonian Airways, the resulting airline, British Caledonian (BCal), became Gatwick's dominant scheduled airline. However, by the end of the decade, Britain's Monopolies and Mergers Commission imposed conditions on the takeover of BCal by the newly privatised British Airways (BA). This led to a shift in dynamics, with Dan-Air and Air Europe assuming the role of the dominant scheduled short-haul operator, while BA focused on long-haul operations.
In 2005, Gatwick underwent further enhancements, with the extension and refurbishment of the luggage reclaim hall and the construction of Pier 6, connected by the largest air passenger bridge in the world. In 2009, the airport was sold to a consortium led by Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) for £1.51 billion, initiating a significant investment program.
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted Gatwick Airport, with flights being consolidated into a single terminal in 2020 for the first time since 1988. However, as restrictions eased in 2021, many airlines restarted operations, including Wizz Air and JetBlue, which launched transatlantic flights to the USA. In 2022, the South Terminal reopened after an 18-month closure, and the airport completed the resurfacing of its main runway.
Cleveland, Ohio's Airport Options: A Comprehensive Overview
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Terminals and facilities
Gatwick Airport, also known as London-Gatwick, is the second-busiest airport in the UK by total passenger traffic, serving hundreds of destinations and millions of passengers every year. The airport has two terminals: the North Terminal and the South Terminal.
The South Terminal was first opened in 1958, making Gatwick one of the world's first airports with an enclosed pier-based terminal. A circular satellite pier was added later, connecting to the main terminal through the UK's first automated people mover system. The North Terminal was built later, and both terminals cover a total area of 258,000 square metres (2,777,000 square feet).
Both terminals offer a range of facilities, including shops, bars, restaurants, cafes, currency exchange services, and help desks. There are also multi-faith prayer and counselling rooms in each terminal, with a daily service led by one of the airport's chaplains. The South Terminal has a conference and business centre, as well as two hotels located inside the airport: Bloc Hotel and Yotel. The North Terminal is served by National Express coaches and is connected to the airport station by a free bus service.
Gatwick Airport is easily accessible by road, with direct links to the M23 motorway at Junction 9 and the A23 Brighton road. It also has long- and short-stay car parks, although these tend to fill up during the summer months. For those travelling by train, Gatwick is well-connected, with direct services to over 120 train stations and a 30-minute nonstop train service to London Victoria station. The airport also has an official taxi partner, Gatwick Cars, and a coach network connecting to over 100 cities and towns.
Barcelona Airport's Expansive Reach: How Big Is It?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![Dungeon Royale - Best Rated Strategy Board Game by Gatwick Games - Popular New Game Funded on Kickstarter - Great for Family Game Night and Birthday Party Events - 2 to 5 Players [Grey]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81CoZn64w0L._AC_UY218_.jpg)
Airlines and destinations
Gatwick Airport, located 45km (28 miles) south of London, is the second busiest airport in the UK, serving hundreds of destinations and millions of passengers every year. The airport has two terminals, the North Terminal and the South Terminal, and is accessible by road, train, coach, and taxi.
Gatwick Airport services over 30 European countries and 100 European destinations, including Geneva, Portugal, Greece, Italy, Spain, Malta, and Denmark. The airport also offers over 50 long-haul destinations, including Dubai, Shanghai, Bangkok, and Dublin.
In 2020, Wizz Air established a new hub at Gatwick Airport, offering routes to Greece, Italy, Spain, and Malta. Other airlines that have operated at Gatwick include Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, EasyJet, British Caledonian, Ryanair, Norwegian Air Shuttle, and Flybe.
Gatwick Airport has a strategy to attract higher-spending business travellers by encouraging full-service airlines to establish or resume operations at the airport. Some of these airlines include Air China, Cathay Pacific, China Eastern Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, Qatar Airways, and Turkish Airlines.
The airport also has a history of being a hub for low-cost and charter airlines, with EasyJet becoming a major presence at the airport after purchasing Flybe's slots in 2014.
Frontier Airlines: Comprehensive Airport Services and Facilities
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Environmental initiatives
Gatwick Airport has implemented a range of environmental initiatives as part of its sustainability strategy. The airport's approach to sustainability is focused on people and communities, net zero, and the local environment.
Gatwick has committed to becoming a net-zero airport by 2030, 10 years ahead of its previous commitment. To achieve this, the airport plans to invest over £250 million to cut emissions under its direct control. This includes replacing all vehicles, gas boilers, and refrigerants with low-carbon alternatives, as well as continuing to reduce overall energy use. Gatwick also plans to invest in on-site renewable energy, including solar power, and source 100% of its electricity from renewable sources. The airport has already achieved carbon neutrality for its direct emissions, ahead of its initial 2050 target.
The airport has set a goal of ensuring that all materials used in its operations, commercial activity, and construction are repurposed for beneficial use by 2030. Additionally, it aims to reduce its drinking water consumption per passenger by 50% by 2030 compared to 2019 levels, and to improve the quality of water leaving the airport. Gatwick is also working with airlines and fuel providers to apply the Sustainable Aviation decarbonisation roadmap and increase the use of sustainable aviation fuel.
Gatwick has also implemented initiatives to reduce emissions from ground transport. By 2030, all on-airport vehicles, including ground support equipment and mobile construction equipment, must meet zero or ultra-low emission standards. The airport is also working with transport providers to increase the use of public transport and zero and ultra-low emission journey modes to 60% by 2030.
In terms of biodiversity, Gatwick has committed to an industry-leading 'net-gain' approach to protecting and enhancing biodiversity at the airport. This includes a goal of zero use of herbicides by 2030. The airport has also won The Wildlife Trust's Biodiversity Benchmark Award for 10 consecutive years, recognising its exemplary management of the airport's natural habitat.
Overall, Gatwick Airport's environmental initiatives are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and the airport is committed to reducing its environmental impact and contributing to a sustainable future.
Airport Ticket Buying Guide for First-Timers
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Gatwick Airport is located 45km (28 miles) south of London, UK.
Gatwick Airport is accessible by train, coach, car or taxi. The airport is linked to London by motorway spur road at junction 9A of the M23, which connects to the main M23 motorway. The M23 connects with London's orbital motorway, the M25, providing access to Greater London, the South East and beyond.
Airlines that operate from Gatwick Airport include easyJet, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Wizz Air, and British Airways Helicopters.
Gatwick Airport has two terminals, the North Terminal and the South Terminal, both of which have shops, restaurants, cafes, bars, bureaux de change, and help desks. The airport also has long- and short-stay car parks.
