Gatwick
Site of Gatwick Airport, West Sussex, England, situated 42 km/26 mi south of central London. Designated as London's second airport in 1954, it is now one of the city's three international airport facilities. Nearly 30 million passengers a year pass through its two terminals. A rail connection links Gatwick to Victoria Station, London.
| Gatwick ‘Airports Ltd’ began operating in May 1936 with a scheduled service to Paris. Its official launch followed in June 1936 with the opening of the world's first circular air terminal. During World War II Gatwick was under military control, but it reopened as a civilian airport in 1946. After being designated as London's second airport, new building work began in 1956, and services recommenced in 1958. In 1959 about 368,000 passengers used the facility, mainly in the summer months. Passenger numbers grew rapidly and a second terminal (North Terminal) opened in 1988. |
