Flying
to London for Business or Pleasure by Andrew Regan
London
has such an incredible amount to offer it's no wonder that over 10
million people choose to live either in London or the surrounding areas,
and it's estimated that over 25 million people visit London each and
every year for work and tourism. With so many flights landing in this
vibrant city every day, it's no surprise that there are a number of
airports serving it.
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Heathrow International
Airport is the largest airport in
the U.K. and is also Europe's busiest for passenger traffic, carrying
approximately 67 million passengers every year. The airport has two
runways and five terminals, the newest being officially opened in March
2008 by Queen Elizabeth II. The vast area it covers it close to five
square miles which gives you an idea of the sheer scale of this
facility. The current site was first used as a military airfield during
the First World War and has evolved throughout the decades since to
become the incredibly large transport hub that we know today.
Gatwick is second to
Heathrow in terms of both size and traffic. With flights to around 200
destinations, Gatwick handles around just over half the number of
passengers per year that Heathrow does.
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Officially
opened for use on 9th June 1958 - again by Queen Elizabeth II - Gatwick
is celebrating 50 years of flights in 2008.
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Just like its larger
counterpart, Gatwick Airport is used by many international airlines
that fly to and from destinations all over the globe, so while it may
not have the considerable stature of Heathrow, it still plays a vital
and very important role in transporting people in and out of London.
As
the only airport actually in London itself, London City Airport serves
over thirty European destinations and has only been in commercial use
since 1987. It's a very popular airport with city workers and leisure
travellers alike and has grown considerably since it was set up. In 2007
passenger numbers reached almost 3 million, a considerable rise from
the 133,000 who used it during its first full year of operation in
1988.
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The
location of the airport means that flight paths are very carefully mapped
out and restrictions have had to be put in place for the heights of any
new skyscrapers in the vicinity. With the 2012 Olympic Games scheduled to
be held in London in 2012, the popularity of London City Airport is set
to continue to rise in future years.
When
you're looking for flights to London you won't be short of options with
these three airports and whether the purpose of your trip is business or
sightseeing, you'll benefit from a range of transport options to take you
into the heart of the action.
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