Gatwick Airport began life in 1930 as a small enthusiast flying club (Surrey Aero Club) and was issued with its first public licence in 1934, which allowed the airport to be used by commercial aircraft. Since then, they’ve gone from strength to strength. Take a look at the key milestones in our history, starting with the most recent, to discover more.
It is the UK’s second largest airport and the busiest single-runway airport in the world. It serves more than 200 destinations (more than any other UK airport) in 90 countries for around 33 million passengers a year on short- and long-haul point-to-point services. It is also a major economic driver for the South-East region, generating around 23,000 on-airport jobs and a further 13,000 jobs through related activities.
The airport is 28 miles south of London with excellent public transport links, including the award winning Gatwick Express. Gatwick Airport is owned by group of international investment funds, of which Global Infrastructure Partners is the majority shareholder.
