Arriving London Which Airport?

Arriving into London by air is an experience as diverse and international as the city itself, served by a constellation of six major commercial airports, each with its own distinct character, specialism, and catchment area. This extensive aviation network effectively splits into two primary categories: long-haul intercontinental gateways and short-haul European and domestic hubs, though significant overlap exists.

London’s air travel is facilitated by six major airports. Two of these, Heathrow and London City Airport, are fully integrated into Transport for London’s fare system, meaning they are part of the Zonal/Oyster network. An additional airport, Gatwick, is also accessible via the Oyster system. This integration of some of London’s key airports into the city’s public transport network highlights their importance and connectivity to the wider metropolitan area.

Arriving London Which Airport?

Distances from Airports to London Piccadilly Circus

Heathrow : 16.5 miles, 36.4 Km

Gatwick : 38.2 miles, 61.1 Km

City :10.2 miles, 16.3 Km

Stansted : 48.9 miles, 78.2 Km

Luton : 33.7 miles, 54 Km

Southend : 43.2 miles, 69 Km

Arriving London Which Airport?

Arriving at London’s airports from overseas, the vast majority of travelers find that onward rail travel into the capital is the standard and most efficient choice. The routes highlighted in the image above demonstrate this comprehensive network, which seamlessly connects all major airports to central London. From the Heathrow Express and Elizabeth Line to the Gatwick Express and Thameslink services, these dedicated rail links offer speed, frequency, and direct access to the city’s heart. For most visitors, bypassing road traffic via these rail options is the preferred norm, providing a reliable and straightforward commencement to their London visit. See internal links below for a more comprehensive guides to getting into Central London

Arriving London Which Airport?

At the forefront of long-haul travel stands Heathrow (LHR), the nation’s busiest airport and a true global crossroads. Its two major runways accommodate a vast array of full-service international carriers, including its anchor airline, British Airways, alongside almost every other major global player, from American Airlines and Qantas to Emirates and Singapore Airlines, connecting London to every inhabited continent.

London Heathrow Airport Terminal 2 (T2)

Aegean Airlines, Aer Lingus, Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Avianca, Brussels Airlines, Croatia Airlines, Egyptair, Ethiopian Airlines, Eurowings, EVA Air, Icelandair, Loganair, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, SAS Scandinavian Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, TAP Portugal, Turkish Airlines, and United Airlines.

London Heathrow Airport Terminal 3 (T3)

Heathrow Terminal 3 is a hub for several airlines, primarily those in the Oneworld alliance. Here are some of the airlines you’ll find there:  

Virgin Atlantic: Their major hub, focusing on long-haul flights. American Airlines: A key Oneworld member, with numerous US flights. British Airways: Primarily long-haul routes (main hub is T5). Cathay Pacific: Oneworld member, flights to Hong Kong and beyond. Delta Air Lines: SkyTeam member, often connecting with Virgin Atlantic: Emirates: This major airline operates its long-haul flights, including the Airbus A380, from Terminal 3.

Iberia: A member of the International Airlines Group (IAG) along with British Airways, Iberia has a significant presence in Terminal 3.  

Qantas: The Australian flag carrier and Oneworld member, Qantas, operates flights to Australia/Destinations from Terminal 3.  

Aeroméxico, China Airlines, Finnair, Hainan Airlines, Iran Air, Japan Airlines, LATAM Airlines, MEA (Middle East Airlines), Royal Jordanian, SriLankan Airlines, and Tianjin Airlines.

London Heathrow Airport Terminal 4 (T4)

• Air France: A major European airline with a wide network of destinations.  
• KLM: The flag carrier of the Netherlands, with connections to numerous cities worldwide.  
• Aeroflot: Russia’s flag carrier, though its current operations may be affected by international events.
• Korean Air: South Korea’s flag carrier, offering flights to Asia and beyond.  
• China Southern Airlines: A major Chinese airline with a growing international presence.  
• Kenya Airways: A key airline for travel within Africa.  
• Vietnam Airlines: The flag carrier of Vietnam, with flights to Southeast Asia and other regions.  
• ITA Airways: The flag carrier of Italy, succeeding Alitalia.  
• Saudia: The flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, with flights to the Middle East and beyond.  
• Tarom: The flag carrier of Romania.  
• Czech Airlines: The flag carrier of the Czech Republic.

Etihad Airways: A major airline from the United Arab Emirates.Qatar Airways: Another prominent Middle Eastern airline with a global network.El Al: The flag carrier of Israel.Gulf Air: The flag carrier of Bahrain.Oman Air: The flag carrier of Oman.Royal Brunei Airlines: The flag carrier of Brunei.Malaysia Airlines: The flag carrier of Malaysia.Royal Air Maroc: The flag carrier of Morocco.Air Algerie: The flag carrier of Algeria.Air Astana: The flag carrier of Kazakhstan.Air Serbia: The flag carrier of Serbia.Azerbaijan Airlines:

London Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 (T5)

Heathrow Terminal 5 is most famously known as the primary hub for British Airways. They operate the vast majority of their flights from this terminal, covering a huge range of destinations.  

In addition to British Airways, you’ll also find Iberia operating from Terminal 5.

Live information on Arrivals an Departures @ Heathrow.com

Arriving London Which Airport?

Heathrow’s sibling, Gatwick (LGW), operates as the largest single-runway airport in the world and serves a vital dual purpose: it is a key base for British Airways and Virgin Atlantic for long-haul leisure routes, while also being a European powerhouse for point-to-point low-cost and charter flights, notably with easyJet.

London Gatwick Airport North Terminal

British Airways: While they have a significant presence in the South Terminal, BA also operates some flights from the North Terminal. easyJet: This is a major airline at Gatwick, and they operate flights from both the North and South Terminals. Emirates: This major airline operates its long-haul flights from the North Terminal. Icelandair: Offers flights to Iceland and beyond from the North Terminal.

London Gatwick Airport South Terminal

Aegean Airlines, Air Arabia, Maroc Air, Baltic Air, Europa Air, India Air, Peace Atlantic Airways, Aurigny Azores Airlines, British Airways (some flights operate from the South Terminal), China Southern Airlines, Corendon Airlines, Croatia Airlines, Eastern Airways, easyJet (operates from both North and South Terminals), Enter Air, Iberia Express, Jet2, KM Malta Airlines, Norse Atlantic, Norwegian (operates from both North and South Terminals), Nouvelair, Ryanair, Sky Alps, Sky Express, SunExpress, TAP Portugal, Titan Airways, TUI (operates from both North and South Terminals), Tunisair, Turkish Airlines, Volotea, Vueling, and Wizz Air.

Live Information on Arrivals & Departures @ Gatwick.Com

Arriving London Which Airport?

London City Airport (LCY) offers a unique proposition. Located mere miles from the financial heart of the City and Canary Wharf, it caters predominantly to business travellers with short-haul flights to key European economic centres, operated by BA CityFlyer and Lufthansa, and features a specific aircraft type restriction for steep approaches and short runways.

London City Airport

Lufthansa: Flies to Frankfurt and Munich. SWISS: Connects to Zurich and Geneva. ITA Airways: Serves Milan and other Italian cities. LOT Polish Airlines: Flies to Warsaw and other Polish destinations. Loganair: Connects to Scotland and the Isle of Man. Aurigny Air Services: Operates flights to the Channel Islands. Luxair: Offers flights to Luxembourg.

Live information on Arrivals & Departures @ londoncityairport.com

Arriving London Which Airport?

Stansted (STN) and Luton (LTN) are overwhelmingly dominated by the short-haul, low-cost model. Stansted is the primary operational base for Ryanair, serving a massive network of European cities, holiday destinations, and regional airports. Similarly, Luton is a crucial hub for easyJet and other budget carriers, offering an extensive menu of European city breaks and sun-seeking routes.

London Stansted Airport

Ryanair: Stansted’s largest airline, with a vast European network. easyJet: A major low-cost carrier with a significant presence. Jet2.com: Offers European flights, popular for package holidays. TUI Airways: Focuses on holiday travel to sunny destinations. Pegasus Airlines: Connects to Turkey and beyond. Loganair: Flies to Scotland and the Isle of Man. Aurigny Air Services: Operates flights to the Channel Islands.

Live information on Arrivals & Departures @ stanstedairport.com

Arriving London Which Airport?

London Luton Airport

easyJet: Large presence, major low-cost carrier. Ryanair: Significant low-cost airline with a wide route network. Wizz Air: Low-cost, focused on Central and Eastern Europe. TUI Airways: Holiday airline, flights to leisure destinations. El Al: Israel’s flag carrier, flights to Tel Aviv. SunExpress: Flights to Turkey and beyond. Iberia: Spanish flag carrier, some flights from Luton. Vueling: Low-cost carrier from Spain. Loganair: Connects to Scotland.

Live information on Arrivals & Departures @ london-luton.co.uk

Arriving London Which Airport?

London Southend (SEN), the smallest and most streamlined of the six. Having previously focused on short-haul European routes with airlines like easyJet, it currently offers a limited but efficient service, providing a notably calm alternative for passengers accessing the eastern side of the capital and beyond. 

London Southend Airport

Currently, it appears that easyJet is the main airline operating at London Southend Airport.

They are offering flights to a number of destinations, primarily within Europe.  

Live information on Arrivals & Departures @ londonsouthendairport.com

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