London Airports Compared

We asked Chat GPT to compare London airports. See what you think..
Here’s a clear comparison of London’s airports based on the latest UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data for 2024

✈️ London’s Major Airports by Passenger Traffic (2024 figures)

Airport 2024 Passengers 2023 / 2024 Growth Notes

Heathrow (LHR) ~83.9 million +5.9% Busiest in the UK and Europe; a global hub with significant transfer traffic and recent expansion plans.  
Gatwick (LGW) ~43.2 million +5.8% UK’s second-busiest; largely low‑cost and leisure-focused; expansion of standby runway underway. 
Stansted (STN) ~29.7 million +6.2% MAG‑owned; recorded its busiest year ever in 2024. Heavy Ryanair and low-cost carrier traffic. 
Luton (LTN) ~16.9 million +3.3% EasyJet & Wizz Air hub; moderate growth; expansion proposals in development. 
City (LCY) ~3.57 million +4.2% Boutique business-heavy airport with rapid growth from pandemic lows. Slower recovery relative to others. 
Southend (SEN) ~0.29 million +97% Still very small; nearly doubled from 2023 but under 300,000 annually. 

🚀 Highlights & Trends

Heathrow set a record-breaking 83.9 m passengers in 2024, surpassing its pre‑pandemic high of ~80.9 m in 2019. It remains Europe’s busiest airport and among the world’s top five.  

Gatwick handled ~43.2 m passengers, with growth below 2019 peak (~46.6 m). Expansion plans could push capacity to 75 m by the late 2030s if noise mitigation and infrastructure conditions are met.  

Stansted delivered nearly 29.7 m passengers—its busiest year yet—and remains a key low-cost international gateway under MAG ownership.  

Luton achieved ~16.9 m passengers, showing steady recovery and growth in budget leisure travel.  

City Airport served ~3.57 m passengers—a modest recovery compared to others—but remains niche, aimed at business passengers with high per-passenger convenience.  

Southend Airport, while up nearly 97%, handled fewer than 300,000 people in 2024—still a tiny fraction of London’s total air traffic.  

🧭 Summary & Context

Heathrow dominates by a large margin, serving nearly double the volume of Gatwick.

Gatwick and Stansted make up the bulk of low-cost and leisure traffic.

Luton is mid‑size, steadily growing through budget carriers.

City Airport remains small and business‑oriented.

Southend is minimal in scale, though growing quickly on a low base.

Wider significance:

Heathrow aims to expand via a proposed £49 billion masterplan to support up to 150 million passengers annually with a third runway, though it faces logistical, financial, and environmental challenges.  

Gatwick is exploring converting its standby runway to full use to boost capacity substantially.  

MAG airports (Stansted, Luton) continue investing to handle rising demand, especially in the budget segment.  

✅ Final takeaway

For sheer volume and international hub status, Heathrow is unmatched. Gatwick and Stansted follow, serving mostly budget and leisure travelers. Luton is mid-tier and growing, while City and Southend are niche players.

Let me know if you'd like details on airlines, destinations, or future capacity projections for any of these!



www.hampshireairportlink.co.uk
Eastleigh, Southampton, Winchester, Bishops Waltham, Fair Oak, Romsey, Fareham, Botley, Hedge End, Totton, New Forest. 



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