| Gatwick airport is located in Crawley, West Sussex | | | | of Gatwick to Paris and Belfast) became in |
| three miles north of London's town center and 40km | | | | association with United Airways and Spartan Airways |
| north of Brighton. | | | | in 1935 to form Allied British Airways Limited. |
| Gatwick is the second largest airport in the UK and the | | | | In 1936 the world's first circular terminal (Beehive) was |
| seventh busiest international airport in the world. It is | | | | opened in Gatwick. One remarkable factor was that |
| also said to be the world's busiest single runway airport | | | | there was a 130 yard long subway to the train station |
| and it is worth mentioning that Gatwick is currently | | | | in order to provide convenience for the airport visitors |
| provided with stand-by runway that can be applied | | | | so they could stay undercover during the time they left |
| when the major runway is out of use. | | | | London Victoria until the boarding time. |
| Gatwick is owned and run by BAA; one of the largest | | | | This building still exists outside the southern perimeter |
| transport companies in the world which is also the | | | | and recently it has been entirely renewed. |
| owner and operator of six other UK. | | | | The first flight for passengers boarding from Gatwick |
| At present there are 79 airlines running from two | | | | to Paris was served in May 1936; it cost four pounds |
| terminals of Gatwick providing flight services for 227 | | | | for single tickets and five pounds and five shillings, |
| destinations. | | | | including the first class train fare from Victoria. |
| Gatwick's first progress was a direct connection for | | | | Between 1939 and 1945 (During the Second World |
| passengers between the airport and the closest rail | | | | War), the airport was requisitioned by the Air Ministry |
| station. Building a covered pier from the terminal to | | | | for use by the RAF (Royal Air Force), its area was |
| aircraft stands was Gatwick's second remarkable | | | | later extended by more requisitioning to include part of |
| innovation which was considered to be a standard | | | | Gatwick Racecourse. |
| characteristic of the airport. | | | | However, Gatwick was returned to civil use in 1946 it |
| In1932 Gatwick was sold to Mr F. Bezner the owner | | | | was still mainly a grass airfield. |
| of the Redwing Company who was the manufacturer | | | | After a few years in 1952 the Government gave |
| of a side-by-side two seater aircraft. He moved the | | | | approval for the proposed development of Gatwick |
| Redwing Flying School in to join the Surrey Aero Club. | | | | as an alternative to Heathrow. |
| In 1933 Morris Jackaman bought Gatwick for | | | | Furthermore, in 1988 the North Terminal costing 200 |
| £13,500 and in 1934 created Airports Limited. | | | | million pounds was officially opened by Her Majesty |
| Jackaman secured the services of Marcel Desoutter | | | | The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh. |
| as his business manager. They worked together in | | | | Finally after a large number of further improvements |
| 1935 when Airports Limited became public and | | | | including opening the new Pier 6 Bridge in May 2005 by |
| 840,000 shares were sold for 5s each and then they | | | | Alistair Darling MP, Gatwick is anxious to create a |
| decided for Terminal construction. | | | | second runway in order to satisfy customer demands. |
| A new railway station was opened at Gatwick in | | | | Although residents and environmentalists are seriously |
| September 1935 and was first operated by two | | | | opposed to this theory but a solution is more than likely |
| Southern Railway trains an hour, on the Victoria to | | | | to be found since the experienced Gatwick has |
| Brighton line. | | | | continuously shown success and innovations in the |
| Hillman's Airways (the first airline provided services out | | | | past years. |