London is the largest air transportation center in the world. For example, last year more than one hundred and eighty million people took off from here and landed. But not everyone knows how many airports there are in London. It turns out that there are six, although very many have not even heard of some of them, since they do not operate regular passenger flights.
Heathrow
This world-famous transport air hub provides long-distance, European and domestic flights. This London airport is considered the busiest in Europe. Its average traffic capacity is more than seventy million passengers a year. Two runways and landing strips, five terminals, the last of which cost more than four billion euros was opened in 2008, are located on the western border of the English capital - in London Hillingdon. This area is connected to the city center by the Heathrow Express special railway service, as well as Heathrow Connect - a local railway line. In addition, the capital can be reached by the London Underground along the Piccadilly line. Two highways , M25 and M4, pass by.
Heathrow Airport (London) serves long-distance, as well as European and domestic flights. Among all six air transport hubs, it is the largest. However, Heathrow Airport is considered the busiest. London, or rather its central regions, is located twenty-two kilometers to the east. The site on which this airport was built was to be part of the forest park area of the English capital.
This London airport is the third largest passenger traffic density in the world. It is on it that the main burden of servicing international flights lies.
Gatwick Airport (London)
It is located some distance from the border of the city, in the county of Sussex. Gatwick has only one runway. Its two terminals serve an average of thirty million passengers annually. From this airport, both domestic and short-haul and long-haul flights are operated. It is connected with the capital by the Gatwick Express railway lines, as well as the Thameslink and Southern. The M23 motorway passes right next to it. From Gatwick Airport to London, lying forty kilometers from it, you can get a maximum of half an hour.
Gatwick is considered the twenty-fifth in the world in the number of passengers passing through it in a year, and in fifth place in terms of the number of foreigners transported. This London airport belongs to the international class with the highest occupancy with a single runway.
The management of this air transport hub is handled by a large BAA company, which is part of an international class consortium. At the moment, it is she who owns all British airports, including Gatwick Airport.
London receives most of its guests through these transport gates of its own. In addition, Gatwick is also used as a base for charter flights. Aircraft of many international and local airlines land on its only lane.
Stansted
Stansted is the most remote airport from the British capital. It is located in Essex, fifty kilometers north of central London. Like Gatwick, it has one runway and one terminal. Stansted serves approximately twenty million people a year. From here, short or domestic flights are mainly operated. This London airport is connected to it by the Stansted Express railway line and the M11 motorway.
The Stansted terminal has three satellites. Two with the main are connected by a bridge, and the third has a transit system. The building was built by Foster Associates. A feature of its design is a “floating” roof, fixed to the frame with pipes that create a stylized image of a flying swan. Inside each structure are communications that provide air conditioning, telephone and electricity. The layout of the terminal is designed so that arriving passengers move freely to the car park. At the same time, mourners do not have the opportunity to observe the departure. This is due to the security requirements of the airport.
London, Luton
It is located about fifty kilometers northwest of the capital, with which it is connected by the M1 highway and railway links. Fest Capital Connect trains depart from nearby Luton Airpot Parkway Station. This London airport has just one terminal. In addition, he has a rather short lane, so he, like Stansted, mainly serves short economy flights with tourists. It is interesting that in Luton the largest possible number of taxis per unit of population.
London City and Biggin Hill
London City Airport serves business flights over short distances and only within England. It is located about ten kilometers east of the City in the business district. The railway line allows you to get from it to the center of the British capital in less than twenty-five minutes.
Biggin Hill, built in the southeast, does not serve regular flights.
What to choose - Heathrow or Gatwick?
Both of these London airports have an international class. They make the most pleasant impression in terms of the variety of services offered. A huge number of bars, restaurants, including those designed for the most demanding passengers, and for picky tourists, beauty salons, game rooms, sometimes very impressive size shops - all this is in Heathrow and in Gatwick. Not far from both airports hotels with the most different price levels have been built.
From Moscow to Heathrow
Many passengers flying from Moscow prefer to land in Heathrow. This is explained by the presence of the London Underground line nearby . Thus, it is possible to save enough, since trains in the UK are somewhat expensive. From here to the hotels and main stations - Paddington, Victoria and Kings Cross - three routes of special buses were laid. In addition, the similar popularity of Heathrow is due to a more diverse selection of products in its stores.
At the same time, those who arrive or depart from this air port, it is better to look at the airport map in advance and understand the intricacies of moving in it. Heathrow has one drawback: many complain that it is very difficult to figure it out. This London airport is huge, and information for foreigners is sometimes not enough.
Gatwick Benefits
The main destinations for this air transport hub and the busiest are destinations in the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean. In addition, Gatwick is used as a base for charter flights to the European direction. More than twenty-three thousand employees create maximum comfort for passengers using the most modern equipment and technological innovations.
Gatwick Terminals
The terminals at Gatwick Airport offer a huge selection of cozy cafes and restaurants, modern bars, business centers, as well as souvenir and newsagents, duty-free shops and currency exchange offices. Between its terminals trailers light metro. At the same time, the travel time does not exceed just two minutes, and the intervals between trains - from three to six minutes.
The choice of arrival airport also depends on the direction in which transit from London continues.