Gatwick Airport

Gatwick Airport is London's second airport and the second busiest airport in the UK after Heathrow in terms of passengers per year. It is located between Horley in Surrey and Crawley in West Sussex, approximately 40 km (25 miles) south of London, and an equal distance north of Brighton.

Gatwick is the busiest single-runway airport in the world, handling over 32.6 million passengers in 2005, [1] flying to around 200 destinations. Charter airlines are generally not allowed to operate from Heathrow and many use Gatwick instead as their base. Many flights to and from the USA also use Gatwick because of restrictions on transatlantic operations from Heathrow. The airport is also a secondary hub for British Airways and Virgin Atlantic.

In 1979, when the last major expansion took place, an agreement was reached with the local council not to expand further before 2019, but recent proposals to build a second runway at Gatwick led to protests about increased noise and pollution and demolition of houses and villages. The government has now decided to expand Stansted and Heathrow but not Gatwick. Gatwick's owners BAA have published a new consultation which includes a possible second runway south of the airport, but leaves the villages of Charlwood and Hookwood, north of the airport, intact.

In common with many airports car parking is in limited supply, in part due to local planning restrictions, and facilities are full to capacity in the summer months.

History

The name "Gatwick" dates back to 1241, and was the name of a manor on the site of today's airport until the 19th century. In 1890, the manor was converted into a race course, which hosted the Grand National for several years during World War I.

In 1930, the Surrey Aero Club was incorporated at Gatwick, and pilots began flying their aeroplanes to the races. In 1933, the race course was purchased by an outside investor and redesigned as a full airport. The Air Ministry approved commercial flights from Gatwick the following year, and by 1936, scheduled flights were operating to several destinations on the Continent. A circular terminal called "The Beehive" was built, with a subway connecting it to Gatwick railway station so that passengers could travel from Victoria Station to the aircraft without stepping into the elements.

After World War II, Gatwick was re-designated as an alternative to Heathrow Airport, and the airport was closed for an extensive (£7.8 million) renovation between 1956 and 1958. The new Gatwick was the world's first airport with a direct railway connection, and was one of the first to use a fully enclosed pier-based terminal design with covered jetbridges connecting waiting areas directly to aircraft.

In 1969, Ariana Flight 701, a Boeing 727 of Ariana Afghan Airlines was arriving at Gatwick from Frankfurt International Airport in Frankfurt am Main, Germany when it crashed into a house, killing 50 of the 66 people on board. Two people died on the ground.

Gatwick Airport Transit

The Gatwick Airport Transit provides free transportation between the North and South Terminals. The transit system uses transit vehicles that run along a 1.2km long elevated two-way track system. The transit vehicles are automatic driverless people movers each with three cars. The transit is free to use with a travel time of only a few minutes.

Plane Accidents

17 February 1959 - a Turkish Airlines Vickers Viscount crashed near Horley whilst approaching for landing at Gatwick. The plane hit some trees and went in to a house. Only 10 of 22 on board the plane survived the accident. On board at the time was Turkish Prime Minister Adnan Menderes who was amongst the survivors.
5th January 1969 - an Ariana Afghan Airlines Boeing 727-113C, crashed while attempting to land in low visibility conditions. The flaps were not extended far enough to maintain flight at final approach speed.

Facilities

Both terminals at Gatwick offer a range of facilities for travellers. Business travellers are catered for by several executive lounges offering peace and quiet and modern business facilities. There is also a conference and business centre with meeting facilities and business services. Business Travellers are also offered Fast Track which enables an efficient car park to airport to check-in and then to flight sevice.

Children are catered for with facilities for baby changing and feeding and there are play areas and video games to keep them amused. The airport also has Skyview in the South Terminal which offers views across the airfield and interactive activities, however this was closed to the public in 2004.

Disabled passengers can travel easily through Gatwick too with all areas being accessible and added special needs facilities.

There is a fairly standard range of shops and restaurants throughout both terminals at Gatwick, such as Starbucks Coffee shops and Virgin Megastores.

The South Terminal includes Pizza Express, McDonalds, several WH Smiths, Boots and an Hilton hotel.

Ground transport

The South Terminal is located directly above the Gatwick Airport railway station, which provides fast and frequent connections along the Brighton Main Line to London's Victoria station and London Bridge station as well as Brighton to the south. The Gatwick Express service to Victoria is the best-known rail service from Gatwick Airport railway station, but several other companies, including Southern, First Capital Connect, Virgin Trains and First Great Western Link, use the station as well. First Capital Connect provide direct trains to Luton Airport, and foot passengers with modest luggage can reach Heathrow Airport by catching an X26 Express Bus from East Croydon.

National Express operates coach service from Gatwick to both Heathrow and Stansted Airport, as well as smaller cities throughout the region.

The airport is near Junction 9 of the M23, and is on the A23 and at the southern end of the A217.

The airport has several long and short stay car parks, both at the airport and off-site.