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Gatwick reopens south terminal as airlines ramp up schedules

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Flights are ramping up from around 300 to 570 a day on Sunday, making it equivalent to opening a medium-sized airport overnight. The terminal has been dormant since June 15 2020 to reduce costs during the coronavirus pandemic. Its shops, cafes, and other facilities have undergone months of refurbishment, updating, and cleaning ahead of the reopening. Gatwick said the … [Read more...] about Gatwick reopens south terminal as airlines ramp up schedules

London’s Heathrow Airport Ends COVID-19 Mask Requirements

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London's Heathrow Airport has announced that it will end the requirement to wear masks in the airport, based on the recent UK government announcement that all COVID travel restrictions and regulations will end from Friday. Here are the full details from the Heathrow press release in my inbox: Those traveling through Heathrow will no longer be required to wear a … [Read more...] about London’s Heathrow Airport Ends COVID-19 Mask Requirements

Heathrow records lowest annual passenger numbers for nearly 50 years

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Heathrow has revealed it was the only hub airport in Europe to see a reduction in passenger numbers in 2021, due to the UK’s tougher coronavirus travel rules. Just 19.4 million people traveled through the west London airport last year. That was down 12.3% on the previous 12 months and represents the lowest annual total since 1972. The airport blamed its poor … [Read more...] about Heathrow records lowest annual passenger numbers for nearly 50 years

London Gatwick to reopen south terminal next month as airlines ramp up schedules

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Gatwick Airport has announced it will reopen its south terminal next month, to meet expected strong demand for air travel this summer. The terminal has been dormant since June 15 2020 to reduce costs during the coronavirus pandemic. It will reopen on March 27 as airlines ramp up their schedules. Gatwick made the announcement on the day travel restrictions for people … [Read more...] about London Gatwick to reopen south terminal next month as airlines ramp up schedules

Heathrow to raise passenger charges by up to 76%

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Flying into Heathrow is to get more expensive for passengers, but most may not notice as the fee is built into your plane ticket. One thing is becoming very clear - as we all resume traveling to Britain, it's going to be more expensive across the board as the travel industry begins to recover from a tough two years. Heathrow has been given the go-ahead to hike passenger … [Read more...] about Heathrow to raise passenger charges by up to 76%

Gatwick Airport still planning to bring emergency runway into routine use, increasing capacity

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Gatwick is pressing ahead with its plan to bring its emergency runway into regular use despite the collapse in demand caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The UK’s second busiest airport said the work could be completed by 2029 and will align with the Government’s policy of “making best use of existing runways.” It also claimed it would be delivered in a “sustainable way … [Read more...] about Gatwick Airport still planning to bring emergency runway into routine use, increasing capacity

A Changing Heathrow: My Personal Relationship With the Gateway to Britain

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When I first arrived at Heathrow Airport on my first trip to Britain in 2001, I was not impressed. The airport was over capacity even then, and our plane arrived late, so we had no gate for the plane to park at. We parked out on the tarmac, far away from the terminal. We had to queue for a bus, which then took us on a circuitous route to the terminal. While parking on the … [Read more...] about A Changing Heathrow: My Personal Relationship With the Gateway to Britain

Heathrow Airport Unveils Master Plan for Third Runway – Standby for Pretty Pictures

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Heathrow is getting a third runway whether anyone likes it or not. It's been a long, drawn-out process but it's the policy of the current British government that a third runway at Heathrow be permitted. As Heathrow Airport, which is now privately owned and desperately wants the new runway to increase capacity, begins the massive consultation process needed to get it approved, … [Read more...] about Heathrow Airport Unveils Master Plan for Third Runway – Standby for Pretty Pictures

Future Heathrow: What Will Heathrow’s Third Runway Look Like? Like This.

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It's still not a done deal but after an independent commission recommended building a third runway at Heathrow airport, the airport has begun preliminary work on the project. Last week they released pictures of what the airport could look like if the runway goes ahead. The pictures show significant changes to how the airport currently looks - with the new runway, new terminals … [Read more...] about Future Heathrow: What Will Heathrow’s Third Runway Look Like? Like This.

Fly Away With Me: How London’s Airports Got Their Names

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I’ll never forget what it was like to walk through the arrivals gate at Heathrow airport. Whereas other airports I’ve flown into might have an arrivals area with a few relatives hanging around or a man or two with a sign that never had my name on it, Heathrow makes you feel like a rock star or celebrity, with the friends and family members of other flyers waving and cheering. … [Read more...] about Fly Away With Me: How London’s Airports Got Their Names

London’s Other Airport: 10 Interesting Facts and Figures about Gatwick Airport

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It feels like Heathrow gets all the attention, but London’s Gatwick Airport certainly has its own prestige. Existing first as an aerodrome in the 1920s, the Air Ministry approved Gatwick for commercial flights in 1933 and the first terminal was built in 1935. From these humble beginnings, Gatwick has built itself up into a major airport for the city and serves as the hub for … [Read more...] about London’s Other Airport: 10 Interesting Facts and Figures about Gatwick Airport

LHR: 10 Interesting Facts and Figures about London Heathrow Airport

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Certainly the busiest airport in all of the United Kingdom, it’s worth flying into at least once in your life. Heathrow started life as the Great West Aerodome in 1929 and was named for the nearby hamlet. The major expansion of Heathrow began in 1944 designed to handle long-distance military flights, but when the war ended, those plans were scrapped and it was turned to … [Read more...] about LHR: 10 Interesting Facts and Figures about London Heathrow Airport

Heathrow Gets a Gleaming New International Terminal to Welcome Travelers to Britain – Details Inside

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The new Heathrow Terminal Two has officially opened today. It's getting much less fanfare than the huge launch a few years ago for British Airways's Terminal Five - mostly because that launch was such a disaster. They're phasing the new Terminal Two into use over the next few months, so the gradual start-up doesn't turn into any major disasters and they work out the … [Read more...] about Heathrow Gets a Gleaming New International Terminal to Welcome Travelers to Britain – Details Inside

An Inside Look at the new Heathrow Terminal Under Construction

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As part of a multi-billion Pound expansion of Heathrow Airport, there's currently a new terminal under construction. And it will open 1 year from now. Terminal 2 is being built on the same location as the older T2, which was demolished. It will be a new state of the art terminal in a similar vein to British Airway's Terminal 5, which was built a few years ago. … [Read more...] about An Inside Look at the new Heathrow Terminal Under Construction

Layover 101 – Things to do on a Layover near London Heathrow Airport

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Editor's Note: Have a long layover in London - here are some ideas for what you can do with your down time at London Heathrow near the airport. Essentially you can do virtually anything if you know the options and you have the time. The big problem are: choosing what to do? knowing where to go to do it? knowing how to get there? knowing the cost of what you want to … [Read more...] about Layover 101 – Things to do on a Layover near London Heathrow Airport

A Guide to Helicopter Tours Over London

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Riding in a helicopter over the historic sites of London allows you to get a truly fresh perspective on the capital and experience something you will be talking about for many years to come. It is not just the rush and thrill of being in a helicopter itself that makes this such a fantastic experience. Nor is it simply the fact you can pack in a couple of days of ordinary … [Read more...] about A Guide to Helicopter Tours Over London

Heathwick? New High Speed Rail Line Proposed to Connect Heathrow and Gatwick Airports

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The big news over the weekend was a new proposal being investigated by the British government that would seek to develop a high speed rail line between Heathrow Airport and Gatwick Airport - thus turning the two airports into a 'virtual hub.' The idea is rather daft and would most certainly be a huge waste of money. The fact of the matter is that the south of England … [Read more...] about Heathwick? New High Speed Rail Line Proposed to Connect Heathrow and Gatwick Airports