London Gatwick Airport is the second busiest airport in the United Kingdom, and one of the top thirty busiest airports in the world. It is located approximately 28 miles south of Central London and serves the Greater London area. It is the home of British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, two of the world's leading airlines.
Gatwick Airport has a long and storied history stretching back to the early 20th century. The airport was first established in 1930 as an aerodrome. It was named after the nearby village of Gatwick, and was initially used by the Royal Air Force for training purposes. In 1933, the airport was taken over by London and Provincial Airways and began to be used for commercial flights.
In the 1950s, the airport was substantially rebuilt and expanded in order to accommodate the increasing demand for air travel. This work included the construction of new runways, a new terminal building, and the addition of new facilities such as a control tower and a radar station. The airport was officially renamed London Gatwick Airport in 1958.
The airport's three letter airport code, LGW, was determined by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The letters are derived from its full name, London Gatwick.
Today, London Gatwick Airport is the busiest single-runway airport in the world. It operates over 50 airlines, and offers flights to more than 200 destinations worldwide. On an average day, it handles over 1,000 flights and serves more than 45 million passengers a year. The airport is the base for British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, two of the world's leading airlines, as well as a number of other international carriers including EasyJet and Air France.
London Gatwick Airport continues to be an important hub for air travel in the United Kingdom and beyond. With its convenient location, modern facilities and well-developed infrastructure, it remains one of the country's busiest airports.
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