Why Does London Have 6 Airports

Summary

This video explores the unique situation of London, which boasts an unprecedented six commercial airports, a phenomenon unmatched by any other city globally. Historically, these airports evolved from WWII Air Force bases, with Heathrow and Gatwick initially serving as London's main hubs. As air travel surged, additional airports like Stansted and Luton were developed to alleviate congestion. Despite challenges in expanding existing airports due to space constraints and residential areas, London's airports continue to serve diverse travel needs, from budget airlines to business travel. The video also discusses the complexities of building new airports in London and the city's potential future air travel solutions.

Takeaways

• 🌐 Big cities like Chicago, Beijing, and Paris have dual airport systems, with one airport focusing on longer and international routes and the other on shorter and domestic routes.
• 🏙 London stands out with an exceptional six commercial airports, more than any other city in the world, due to historical development and space constraints.
• 🛫 London's airports include Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Stansted, London City, and Southend, with four of them located outside the city but still serving London's air traffic.
• 🕰 The foundation of London's multiple airports dates back to World War II, when many airbases were transformed into commercial airports after the war due to the growing demand for air travel.
• 🛠️ Expansion limitations of Heathrow and Gatwick, surrounded by residential and industrial areas, led to the development of additional airports like Stansted to handle the increasing air traffic.
• 🌟 London City Airport was built on an old dock with a runway-shaped space close to the city center, focusing on business travelers and relieving passenger rush at other airports.
• 🎯 Luton and Southend airports were rebranded and developed to include 'London' in their names to better serve as London's airports, increasing their capacity to handle flights.
• 📈 Today, Heathrow and Gatwick remain the largest airports with a combined 1100 flights daily, while Stansted and Luton serve as hubs for budget airlines with about 450 flights daily.
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• 🚧 The challenges of building a new large-scale airport in London include finding suitable land, Green Belt restrictions, protests, financial issues, and political challenges.
• 🤔 The future of London's airport capacity raises questions about whether the city will face the challenges to build a new airport or expand existing ones to meet the demand.

Q & A

Why do some major cities have a dual airport system?

Major cities often have a dual airport system to distribute air traffic efficiently. One airport typically handles longer and international routes, while the other manages shorter and domestic routes.

How many commercial airports does London have and what makes its airport system unique?

London has an unprecedented six commercial airports, which is the highest number for any city in the world. Unlike other cities, which usually have two or three airports at most, London's system is a result of historical development and the transformation of former Air Force bases.

What is the significance of space issues in the placement of airports?

Space issues are crucial in deciding where to place airports, especially in big cities. Airports sometimes need to be located outside city limits due to a lack of available space, which is a common practice among large urban areas.

Why did London start transforming Air Force bases into commercial airports after World War II?

After World War II, the Air Force bases around London were no longer needed for military purposes. With the rise of commercial air travel, these bases were repurposed into commercial airports to accommodate the growing demand for air transport.

What factors led to the creation of a third airport in London during the 1960s?

The 1960s saw a boom in air traffic, and officials realized that Heathrow and Gatwick were too small and surrounded by residential or industrial areas, limiting their expansion capabilities. This led to the decision to build a third airport, Stansted, to serve the Northeast region of London and alleviate traffic at the existing airports.

Why did London's airports end up being so numerous compared to other cities?

London's numerous airports are a result of historical circumstances and the city's piecemeal approach to airport development. Unlike other cities that built airports with future expansion in mind, London's airports were conversions of existing Air Force bases, which were small and limited in number, necessitating the creation of additional airports.

How does the number of runways in London's airports compare to other major cities?

The combined number of runways across all six of London's airports is eight. In contrast, Houston's two airports have a total of seven runways, and Chicago's O'Hare Airport alone has eight runways, illustrating the unique situation of London's airport infrastructure.

What was the rationale behind developing London Luton Airport as a London airport?

London Luton Airport was rebranded and developed to relieve the passenger rush from Heathrow and Gatwick, focusing on business travelers due to its proximity to the financial district of London.

What is the current status of London's airports in terms of operation and capacity?

Heathrow and Gatwick remain the largest airports, serving a total of 1100 flights daily, with Heathrow running at full capacity. Stansted and Luton have become hubs for budget airlines, while London City Airport caters to business travel, and London Southend Airport operates a limited number of routes.

What challenges does London face in considering the construction of a new airport or the expansion of existing ones?

Building a new airport in London is fraught with challenges, including finding a large enough area, navigating Green Belt designations that protect undeveloped areas from development, and overcoming protests, financial issues, and political challenges.

What is the future outlook for London's airport system, and what decisions might the city face?

The future of London's airport system is uncertain. The city may need to decide between overcoming significant challenges to build a new airport or finding ways to expand existing airports to accommodate the growing demand for air travel.