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Gatwick History

London's second biggest international airway 24 miles to the south of London. Gatwick is the busiest single runway airport in the world, the second largest airport in the UK and the sixth busiest international airport in the world.

Gatwick airport has 2 terminals (North & South) taking over 30 million people on over 100 airlines to over 280 destinations, but it hasn't always been that way...Gatwick's war time role as a Royal Air Force base saw it grow through the acquisition of the local racecourse but when it was returned to civil use in 1946 it was still basically a grass airfield.

Aircraft maintenance and a limited number of charter flights kept it ticking over but it added to its reputation for new thinking by housing the British European Airways helicopter base.

In 1953 the Government decreed Gatwick as London's second airport. The old airport was closed for major re-development. When it officially re-opened three years later Gatwick had been transformed into a modern facility.

There was 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. This facility has been further enhanced by the addition of the M23 link and the M25 (London ringroad).

Over the years further expansion has taken place. 1962 - Expansion of the original terminal building and 2 additional piers constructed. 1964 - The runway was extended. 65-77 - Runway extended - twice! 1977 - Another pier opened. 1984 - new pier further extended. The 80's saw the start of the largest construction south of London, apparently, with the start of the £200 million construction of North Terminal.

The Queen & Prince Philip opened this new addition to London Gatwick Airport in 1988. Charter traffic became big business in the 1980s and with more than a million passengers then using Gatwick the terminal was extended and two more piers built.

Despite the upturn Gatwick still ranked only fourth busiest of UK airports but British United Airways, then the main operator, was steadily introducing scheduled services. Gatwick had ambitions beyond the charter market and those were finally realised in 1978 when it became a transatlantic gateway.

By the time Delta, Braniff and British Caledonian, BUA's successor, started up their routes to the USA the airport had already extended its runway to handle the long haul jets and further improved the terminal. Passenger traffic hit the 10 million mark in the 1980s and has continued to grow at a phenomenal rate, reaching over 32 million in 2000.

A satellite to the original building, renamed the South Terminal, and the North Terminal have been opened as Gatwick established itself as Britain's second busiest airport and an international player.

As traffic continues on its upward path Gatwick is anxious to build a second runway to meet demand. It has run into implacable opposition but a history of successful innovation suggests a solution will be found.

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