Gatwick's 50th birthday
On 9 June 2008 Gatwick Airport celebrates 50 years since the opening of South Terminal by HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.
The airport has travelled a long way in the last 50 years and it’s a great opportunity to celebrate Gatwick’s glorious past and to focus on its future.
Here’s a quick look at the last half century and some of the landmarks in Gatwick’s ongoing story.
The 1950’s
In 1956 building began on what was then called ‘The New London Airport’.
The main civil engineering contract was awarded to Sir Alfred McAlpine & Sons who constructed the new concrete runway measuring 7,000 feet, across the site of the former racecourse. They laid 25 miles of concrete including the runway and taxiways, terminal apron and roads.
The new South Terminal building included the first pier in Europe to enable passengers to walk under cover between the terminal and the aircraft and the racecourse railway station was rebuilt alongside the terminal making Gatwick the first airport to combine air, rail and road transport links.
HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh formerly opened the £7.8million new Gatwick Airport on 9 June 1958 and unveiled a commemorative plaque. A short service of dedication was conducted by The Bishop of Kingston upon Thames.
On that day 50 years ago, the cost of The Times newspaper was just 4p, you could fly to Paris for £7, all four UK football sides were unbeaten in the World Cup , England won the first test match against New Zealand and the London
busmen were on strike! And some things never change – the weather was a mixture of sunshine and showers!
In her speech the Queen said: “ My husband and I travel by air often enough to realise that without proper ground control and efficient terminal facilities quick and safe air travel would not be possible. I have not the least doubt that the latest ideas have been embodied in every department of this new airport. I am quite sure that the combination of a good road and rail link with modern buildings and facilities will help to make a favourable impression on visitors to this country. I am sure that this airport has a great future before it.”
The Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, Harold Watkinson, said: “ Nobody will know better than Your Majesty the fascinating possibilities in front of us as new types of aircraft bring the Commonwealth, and indeed the whole world, closer together. We hope that this new airport at Gatwick has been planned to fit the new air age that lies ahead.”
The inaugural flight from Gatwick that day was a British European Airways DC3 flying to Jersey and Guernsey.
In the first seven months of operation, 186,172 passengers passed through the airport. In 1959 passenger numbers grew to 368,000.
The 1960’s
Gatwick has been home to many famous airlines and one of the first to be formed was Dan-Air in 1960. The airline continued until its takeover by British Airways in 1992. The company’s headquarters in Horley went on to become the training centre for another Gatwick-based airline, Virgin Atlantic, formed in 1984.
British United Airways, which went on to become one of the airlines that merged to become British Caledonian, was also established in 1960 under managing director Freddie Laker. Six years later he formed Laker Airways which went on to start the SkyTrain service.
Only four years after its opening, work began on enlarging the airport and the terminal was doubled in size and two more piers were added by 1966. Larger jet aircraft meant that the original runway was considered too short and it was extended to 8,200 ft in 1964.
The 1970’s
In 1977 SkyTrain started its service between Gatwick and New York operating a DC10 aircraft and this continued until 1982.
In 1978, HRH Prince Charles opened the newly enlarged international arrivals hall which doubled the size of South Terminal . Passenger numbers grew to over 7million a year.
The 1980’s
Expansion continued with the redevelopment of the ‘North Pier’ as the Satellite (now Pier 3) and it was officially opened by Lavinia, Duchess of Norfolk in 1983. Access to and from the South Terminal was by rapid transit system, the first of its kind outside the USA. In the same year approval was granted for work to begin on a second terminal and in 1984 a state-of-the-art 148ft tall control tower also opened for business.
In the same year, the Gatwick Express rail service to London began – the first non-stop airport rail service providing direct services to London Victoria.
In 1985 , construction began on the northern runway which would be used as an alternative to the main runway in case of emergencies.
In 1987, HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh re- visited Gatwick to open the £200m North Terminal. Gatwick became the world’s second busiest airport ahead of New York’s JFK and the newly privatised British Airways became the largest airline to operate from North Terminal.
The 1990’s
In 1994 the new North Terminal International Departures Lounge and the first phase of the new South Terminal International Departures Lounge opened at a total cost of £29.5m.
Year 2000 and beyond…….
In 2001, the airport signed a ground breaking legal agreement with West Sussex County Council and Crawley Borough Council, as part of its Sustainable Development Strategy designed to protect local communities from the impact of growth whilst enabling Gatwick to grow sustainably. Expansion continued and a new £35m extension to the North Terminal International Departure Lounge opened.
In May 2005, the world’s largest air passenger bridge to span a live taxiway opened. Pier 6 was the first of its kind at any airport in the UK connecting the North Terminal will 11 pier-served stands. Weighing 2700 tonnes, 197 metres long and 32 metres high, Pier 6 cost £110m.
In the same year a £40m extension and refurbishment of South Terminal’s baggage reclaim hall opened.
Today, Gatwick handles 35 million passengers a year and is the world’s busiest single-use runway.
Eighty airlines operate to 200 destinations worldwide and the airport’s top three airlines are easyJet, British Airways and Monarch.
Since it began operating commercially, Gatwick has played a vital role in the region’s economic and social success and it currently provides direct employment to around 25,000 people.
When South terminal opened 50 years ago it was ground breaking in design and put the passenger at its heart. Gatwick remains true to that principle today and it is embarking on an ambitious investment programme to revitalise the airport and provide services and facilities that meet the needs of passengers today and in the future. BAA
On 9 June 2008 Gatwick Airport celebrates 50 years since the opening of South Terminal by HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.
The airport has travelled a long way in the last 50 years and it’s a great opportunity to celebrate Gatwick’s glorious past and to focus on its future.
Here’s a quick look at the last half century and some of the landmarks in Gatwick’s ongoing story.
The 1950’s
In 1956 building began on what was then called ‘The New London Airport’.
The main civil engineering contract was awarded to Sir Alfred McAlpine & Sons who constructed the new concrete runway measuring 7,000 feet, across the site of the former racecourse. They laid 25 miles of concrete including the runway and taxiways, terminal apron and roads.
The new South Terminal building included the first pier in Europe to enable passengers to walk under cover between the terminal and the aircraft and the racecourse railway station was rebuilt alongside the terminal making Gatwick the first airport to combine air, rail and road transport links.
HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh formerly opened the £7.8million new Gatwick Airport on 9 June 1958 and unveiled a commemorative plaque. A short service of dedication was conducted by The Bishop of Kingston upon Thames.
On that day 50 years ago, the cost of The Times newspaper was just 4p, you could fly to Paris for £7, all four UK football sides were unbeaten in the World Cup , England won the first test match against New Zealand and the London
busmen were on strike! And some things never change – the weather was a mixture of sunshine and showers!
In her speech the Queen said: “ My husband and I travel by air often enough to realise that without proper ground control and efficient terminal facilities quick and safe air travel would not be possible. I have not the least doubt that the latest ideas have been embodied in every department of this new airport. I am quite sure that the combination of a good road and rail link with modern buildings and facilities will help to make a favourable impression on visitors to this country. I am sure that this airport has a great future before it.”
The Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, Harold Watkinson, said: “ Nobody will know better than Your Majesty the fascinating possibilities in front of us as new types of aircraft bring the Commonwealth, and indeed the whole world, closer together. We hope that this new airport at Gatwick has been planned to fit the new air age that lies ahead.”
The inaugural flight from Gatwick that day was a British European Airways DC3 flying to Jersey and Guernsey.
In the first seven months of operation, 186,172 passengers passed through the airport. In 1959 passenger numbers grew to 368,000.
The 1960’s
Gatwick has been home to many famous airlines and one of the first to be formed was Dan-Air in 1960. The airline continued until its takeover by British Airways in 1992. The company’s headquarters in Horley went on to become the training centre for another Gatwick-based airline, Virgin Atlantic, formed in 1984.
British United Airways, which went on to become one of the airlines that merged to become British Caledonian, was also established in 1960 under managing director Freddie Laker. Six years later he formed Laker Airways which went on to start the SkyTrain service.
Only four years after its opening, work began on enlarging the airport and the terminal was doubled in size and two more piers were added by 1966. Larger jet aircraft meant that the original runway was considered too short and it was extended to 8,200 ft in 1964.
The 1970’s
In 1977 SkyTrain started its service between Gatwick and New York operating a DC10 aircraft and this continued until 1982.
In 1978, HRH Prince Charles opened the newly enlarged international arrivals hall which doubled the size of South Terminal . Passenger numbers grew to over 7million a year.
The 1980’s
Expansion continued with the redevelopment of the ‘North Pier’ as the Satellite (now Pier 3) and it was officially opened by Lavinia, Duchess of Norfolk in 1983. Access to and from the South Terminal was by rapid transit system, the first of its kind outside the USA. In the same year approval was granted for work to begin on a second terminal and in 1984 a state-of-the-art 148ft tall control tower also opened for business.
In the same year, the Gatwick Express rail service to London began – the first non-stop airport rail service providing direct services to London Victoria.
In 1985 , construction began on the northern runway which would be used as an alternative to the main runway in case of emergencies.
In 1987, HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh re- visited Gatwick to open the £200m North Terminal. Gatwick became the world’s second busiest airport ahead of New York’s JFK and the newly privatised British Airways became the largest airline to operate from North Terminal.
The 1990’s
In 1994 the new North Terminal International Departures Lounge and the first phase of the new South Terminal International Departures Lounge opened at a total cost of £29.5m.
Year 2000 and beyond…….
In 2001, the airport signed a ground breaking legal agreement with West Sussex County Council and Crawley Borough Council, as part of its Sustainable Development Strategy designed to protect local communities from the impact of growth whilst enabling Gatwick to grow sustainably. Expansion continued and a new £35m extension to the North Terminal International Departure Lounge opened.
In May 2005, the world’s largest air passenger bridge to span a live taxiway opened. Pier 6 was the first of its kind at any airport in the UK connecting the North Terminal will 11 pier-served stands. Weighing 2700 tonnes, 197 metres long and 32 metres high, Pier 6 cost £110m.
In the same year a £40m extension and refurbishment of South Terminal’s baggage reclaim hall opened.
Today, Gatwick handles 35 million passengers a year and is the world’s busiest single-use runway.
Eighty airlines operate to 200 destinations worldwide and the airport’s top three airlines are easyJet, British Airways and Monarch.
Since it began operating commercially, Gatwick has played a vital role in the region’s economic and social success and it currently provides direct employment to around 25,000 people.
When South terminal opened 50 years ago it was ground breaking in design and put the passenger at its heart. Gatwick remains true to that principle today and it is embarking on an ambitious investment programme to revitalise the airport and provide services and facilities that meet the needs of passengers today and in the future. BAA