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Gatwick Airport (LGW) is the second busiest airport in the United Kingdom, and also the second largest in London. It is also the world's busiest single runway airport, the world's 22nd busiest airport in terms of passengers numbers, and the world's 7th busiest in terms of international passengers.

Gatwick Airport is located in Crawley, West Sussex 46 km (28 miles) south of London. The site has been used as an aerodrome going back to the 1930's. For much of its early existence, it was the site of flying school. During the war years, it was used by the British Air Force for aircraft maintenance. It already had an underground train connection since 1936.

The decision to make in 1950 to use Gatwick as the second international airport after Heathrow. It closed for extensive renovation in 1956, and was reopened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1958. The renovated airport became the world's first passenger airport with railway connection. Today it is served by two terminals, North and South Terminal. Pier 6 at North Terminal, opened in 2005, is the world's longest air passenger bridge. It spans an aircraft taxiway, allowing passengers excellent views of the airport and planes.

Gatwick is owned and operated by BAA which is owned by the Spanish Ferrovial Group. BAA owns and operates six other UK airports including Heathrow. There are 263,363 aircraft movements at Gatwick in 2006. In 2007 the airport surpassed the 35 million passenger milestone. In 2008, Gatwick celebrated 50 years of operations. It was opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 9 June 1958. Today it is the main London base for charter airlines. Many flights to and from USA also use Gatwick due to restrictions at Heathrow. The airport is also a major operational base for British Airways, easyJet and Virgin Atlantic, and the base for charter airlines including First Choice Airways, Thomas Cook Airlines, Thomsonfly and XL Airways.




Gatwick Airport, London
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Gatwick Airport
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