The capital city of the UK and major business hub in Europe, London welcomes thousands of visitors on a daily basis. There are plenty of reasons to go pay it a visit, and visitors from every part of the globe are very much aware of this. Whether it is for tourism, leisure or business, national and international travelers crowd the skies of the city, making up for 60% of the whole air traffic in the UK. The presence of a quite a few airports nearby and several domestic runways scattered around, definitely helps streamlining the flow, however, it is due to the three main airports that London never fails catering for international traffic.
Worldwide famous Heathrow Airport is the main hub for air traffic in London and in the UK altogether; served by 82 airlines and connecting London to about 180 destinations in the world, this airport is often rated the busiest in England and definitely one of the 3 most crowded airports in Europe. Being frequented by an average 190000 passengers every single day, Heathrow has been holding up as the airport with the largest number of international passengers since 2004.
Due to its highly developed facilities, the variety of medium to high-class airlines and its overall geographical position, Heathrow is definitely the airport preferred by international business travelers – accounting for about 20.7 millions.
If you are flying to Heathrow, you are spoiled with choice when it comes to choosing your flight and, if you are willing to book a business class flight; you can really afford to be picky on the comforts, extras and the entertainment features offered by the best Air Caterers. Among the most popular airlines: British Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Virgin Atlantic Airways, US Airways, Air India, Cyprus Airways, Air New Zealand, Kuwait Airways.
Second- busiest airport in the UK is also near London, about 28.6 miles south of central London. Gatwick is the airport with the most European connections, catering for both premium class and charter flights everywhere in Europe; however, it is gaining ground in international connections as well, thanks to the omnipresent British Airways which flies US visitors from Jersey, Las Vegas, Orlando and more. Gatwick is becoming a popular choice among US travelers, as per last year’s figures of the airport; Orlando and San Diego are among the most popular international destinations.
Stansted is the third-busiest airport in London, fourth-busiest in the United Kingdom, and is also taking off as an international airport for transatlantic flights, with a couple of airlines connecting London to New York and Washington D.C, like Airberlin – that schedules (cheaper) flights quite frequently. Airports are all rather far-out however, they all offer efficient comfortable options to reach out central London (or any other part of the city). If you arrive at London Gatwick or London Heathrow airports and want to head central, you’re better off on an express train like Gatwick Express and Heathrow Express, the perfect option for those who are on a business trip and need hassle-free transportation.
If time is not a concern for you and you are happy to save a few pounds, you’ll find plenty of other options to reach the heart of London. City bus and airport shuttles are the best in terms of value for money. Major companies include Terravision and the locals’ favorite National Express – both scheduling frequent rides to and from the airport at decent fares.
Standard trains may take a bit longer and are pricier, so unless you’re heading specifically to Victoria Station or London Bridge or some minor stop in-between, you may want to think about it twice before jumping on one. Your destination does play an important role when planning your journey, and that’s when the Transport of London website comes in handy! This website is the most efficient way to understand and make the most out of transports in London, as it provides you with punctual updates, journey details and thorough street maps.
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