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Gatwick Airport InformationBack to Airport Information Indexget a quote for airport parking get a quote for airport hotels Gatwick AirportHistory :Gatwick Airport is the UK's second busiest airport and has been around for over 70 years. Originally, it was a private airfield owned by Home Countries Aviation Services. With some serious development, it was officially opened a few years later in 1936 with its first terminal, taxiways and aprons. Passengers arriving by train could walk into the airport through subways and covered walkways. Gatwick was abandoned by its principal airline in 1938 due to the lack of paved runways. During the war Gatwick grew as a royal Air Force base but was returned to civil use in 1946 where it was basically just a grass airfield. In 1953 the airport was announced as London's second airport by the Government. The old airport was closed for major re-development. Gatwick reopened three years later as a modern facility with a 2000 feet runway, a terminal incorporating a rail station and a covered pier linking terminal with aircraft, the first of its kind in the UK. 1978 saw Gatwick become a transatlantic gateway with Delta, Braniff and British Caledonian starting up their routes to the USA. By now Gatwick had extended its runways to handle the new jets and improved the terminal. Gatwick was soon established as Britain's second busiest airport, hitting the 10 million mark in the 1980's and reaching over 31 million in 2001. Passengers :Gatwick airports carries roughly 32 million passengers a year. Airlines :
Getting there :Train - Gatwick Express offers dedicated, high-speed travel between central London and Gatwick Airport. With a journey time of just 30 minutes between London Victoria and Gatwick (35 minutes on Sundays), there is no faster way between the heart of the city and the airport. Alternatively, the rail station is directly linked to Gatwick's South Terminal and is just a few minutes from North Terminal via a free transit train link. Rail information and ticket desks are located in the rail station and within the arrival areas of both terminals. Bus - Fastway 10 operates from to City Place, Manor Royal Industrial Area, Crawley town centre, Southgate Avenue, Broadfield and Bewbush. Fastway 20 runs to Horley town centre, Langshott, City Place, Gatwick Road, Three Bridges, Southgate Avenue and Broadfield. Route 100 from Horley town centre, Court Lodge, Salfords, East Surrey Hospital, Redhill, City Place (certain journeys), Manor Royal Industrial Area, Northgate, Crawley Town Centre and Maidenbower. Gatwick Direct 200 operates from Gatwick South only to City Place, Manor Royal Industrial Area, Langley Green, Ifield, Gossops Green and Bewbush. Car - Gatwick is 28 miles (45km) south of London, directly linked to the M23 at Junction 9 and to the A23 London-Brighton road. Just a ten minute drive away, the M25 further connects with the UK's extensive road and motorway network. Facilities :Cash machines, currency exchange, bars, restaurants and shopping etc. |
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