Air Travel in London
- The sight and sound of Heathrow-bound aircraft has been part of life in Central London for generations. The airport, which lies to the west of the city, opened shortly after the end of World War II and is now one of the busiest in the world with thousands of passengers traveling through its four operational terminals every day.
It is a major hub airport with passengers arriving on flights from across the United Kingdom and Irish Republic to join international services to destinations around the globe.
As of 2010 the terminal at which travelers from the United States disembark depends on which airline they are using. The airport's website shows British Airways flights arriving at Terminal Five and Virgin Atlantic using Terminal Three. American Airlines also uses Terminal Three, while Delta and Continental use Terminal Four. - London's second airport, London Gatwick, is located in the County of Essex beside Crawley, one of southern England's post Second World War "new towns." It opened in 1958 in what is now the South Terminal, with the North Terminal being built during the 1980s. It has become a hub airport where passengers change from United Kingdom and Irish Republic flights to international departures.
It is a major center of operations for the inclusive tour industry with package holiday flights departing daily to the major European and international tourist destinations.
U.S. travelers can fly to Gatwick on services operated by US Airways and Delta Airlines. Delta flights arrive at the North Terminal, while US Airways services use the South Terminal. - Gatwick has also become part of the low-cost air travel revolution. The website of British cut-price airline "easyJet" shows, as of 2010, it operates an extensive route network from the airport.
The low-cost airline Ryanair also provides services to Gatwick but the two airlines' original centers of operation in the United Kingdom lie north of London at London Luton and London Stansted Airports.
U.S. travelers wishing to visit other parts of Europe after their stay in London will find competitive fares on both airlines' websites. The golden rule is the earlier the booking is made, the cheaper the fare so make your arrangements as soon as you have definite dates in mind. - Passengers arriving for the first time at London City Airport will notice a slightly steeper approach than at other UK airports. This is because of the airport's location in the heart of London's docklands and the need for noise abatement procedures.
As of 2010 the largest aircraft to use the airport is the A318. British Airways utilizes this airliner in business-class configuration to provide a service to New York.
Services operate from London City to other parts of the United Kingdom as well as destinations in continental Europe such as Amsterdam and Paris.
Some flights are operated by jet aircraft but many routes are flown by turboprops such as the Dash 8 and Fokker 50 series. - Heathrow is the only London airport served by the city's subway (known in England as the underground or tube). The journey to central London takes about 45 minutes. Gatwick, Stansted and, more recently, Heathrow have their own mainline rail express services. Gatwick's arrives at London Victoria, Stansted's at Liverpool Street and Heathrow's at Paddington. Other rail services also stop at Gatwick.
A frequent shuttle bus links Luton Airport with the nearby Luton Parkway Station, which offers frequent services to St Pancras International. London City Airport is served by the mainly elevated Dockland's Light Railway, which offers interchange with the subway system at Canning Town.
All airports are also linked to central London by a variety of bus services and taxis are always available. There are links to public transport operators on the airports' websites.
