London Gatwick

London Gatwick
Mike McBey · CC BY 2.0 · source
Name	Gatwick Airport
Iata	LGW
Icao	EGKK
Type	Public
Owner	Global Infrastructure Partners
Operator	Gatwick Airport Limited
City-served	London
Location	Crawley, West Sussex
Elevation-f	197
Website	gatwickairport.com

London Gatwick

Gatwick is a major international airport located near Crawley, West Sussex, serving the Greater London region and acting as a hub for short- and long-haul scheduled and low-cost carriers. Originally developed from Redhill Aerodrome-era aviation activity and interwar airfields, Gatwick grew through postwar civil aviation policies linked to the Air Transport Licensing Board and later regulatory regimes under the Civil Aviation Authority. The airport plays a significant role among Heathrow Airport, Stansted Airport, Luton Airport, and London City Airport within the United Kingdom aviation network.

History

Gatwick's earliest recorded aviation use involved Royal Flying Corps and Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment activities near Shoreham-by-Sea and Farnborough before development as a commercial aerodrome. The site hosted Imperial Airways and Handley Page operations during the 1930s and suffered wartime requisition by the Royal Air Force during World War II for RAF Gatwick training and Advanced Flying Unit functions. Postwar, ownership passed through private groups influenced by figures linked to British European Airways and policies of the Ministry of Civil Aviation; subsequent privatization involved transactions with British Airports Authority-era entities and later sale to GIP (Global Infrastructure Partners). Major milestones included runway extensions, terminal reconstruction influenced by architects associated with projects like Terminal 5, Heathrow contractors, and operational reforms after incidents investigated by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch and legislative reviews by Department for Transport ministers.

Facilities and Terminals

Gatwick comprises two main passenger terminals: the North Terminal and the South Terminal, connected via a transit railway and surface transport infrastructure developed with contractors who previously worked on Jubilee line or Crossrail projects. Terminal facilities include check-in halls, security zones compliant with International Civil Aviation Organization standards, and lounges operated by carriers such as British Airways, easyJet, Norwegian Air Shuttle, and alliance partners from Oneworld, Star Alliance, and SkyTeam. Ground handling services involve companies like Swissport, Globeground, and maintenance operations linked to Airbus and Boeing MRO suppliers. Cargo facilities support operators including FedEx Express, DHL Express, and UPS Airlines, with freight apron space and cold-chain partners used by pharmaceutical exporters to markets like Frankfurt Airport and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.

Airlines and Destinations

Gatwick hosts a mix of network carriers and low-cost operators. Major airlines operating scheduled services include British Airways, easyJet, Norwegian Air Shuttle, TUI Airways, Vueling, Wizz Air, Jet2.com, and long-haul operators like Virgin Atlantic and Delta Air Lines via partnerships. Destinations span European cities such as Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport, Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, Madrid-Barajas Airport, and Rome–Fiumicino Airport, plus intercontinental routes to hubs like New York–JFK, Dubai International Airport, Doha Hamad International Airport, and seasonal leisure points including Reykjavík, Marrakech Menara Airport, and Mauritius. Codeshare agreements and alliances connect services through Istanbul Airport, Frankfurt Airport, Munich Airport, and feeder markets served by regional operators like Loganair.

Ground Transport and Access

Rail links include Gatwick Airport railway station served by Gatwick Express to London Victoria station, Southern (train) routes to Brighton railway station, and Thameslink services linking London Bridge station, St Pancras International, and Luton Airport Parkway. Road access uses the A23 road and connections to the M23 motorway with coach services operated by National Express and easyBus to central London, Heathrow Central Bus Station, and regional centres such as Brighton and Guildford. Car parking, taxi ranks, and cycle routes connect with local authorities including West Sussex County Council and commuter initiatives coordinated with Network Rail and Transport for London strategic plans.

Operations and Statistics

Operational control uses an air traffic management interface coordinated with NATS (air traffic control), complying with EU-era airspace redesign influenced by SESAR and Eurocontrol planning. Annual passenger throughput historically placed Gatwick among the world's busiest single-runway airports, competing with Heathrow for UK traffic share; statistics track aircraft movements, cargo tonnage, and on-time performance monitored by Civil Aviation Authority metrics and airline-led performance indicators. Seasonal peak patterns align with British Summer Time holiday travel and charter flows to Mediterranean resorts, with slot coordination overseen by Airport Coordination Limited.

Incidents and Safety

Safety record includes investigations by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch following runway incursions, birdstrike events involving aircraft types such as the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320, and security responses coordinated with Civil Aviation Authority directives and Metropolitan Police counterterrorism units. Notable incidents prompted regulatory reforms mirrored in International Air Transport Association guidance and infrastructure investments like upgraded Surface Movement Radar systems and enhanced Rescue and Fire Fighting Service capacity compliant with ICAO Category standards.

Future Development and Expansion

Planned developments have considered a second runway in historical proposals debated in House of Commons and environmental reviews engaging Environment Agency, Natural England, and local councils including Crawley Borough Council and Reigate and Banstead Borough Council. Current expansion focuses on terminal enhancements, digital transformation projects with technology partners familiar from Heathrow Terminal 2 initiatives, and sustainability commitments aligned with UK Civil Aviation Authority net-zero targets and carbon offsetting schemes endorsed by IATA. Proposals balance capacity growth against constraints linked to Air Quality Standards Regulations 2010 and community consultations involving stakeholders like Local Enterprise Partnership forums.

Category:Airports in England