Gatwick Collection

The beehive terminal building at Gatwick Airport in 1937. de Havilland DH86 Express Air Liner, G-ADEA, of British Airways, flies past. Date: 1937

Gatwick airport, 1936
The improved Gatwick airport at the time of its official opening, 1936. The new Martello tower-style design enabled the airport to deal with six big air liners at once. 1936

Gatwick Airport
Passengers alighting from a British United Airways (BUA) plane at London Gatwick Airport, England and it is refuelled at the same time

Gatwick Airport, Sussex, England, United Kingdom, Europe

De Havilland Comet 4C G-ARJL BEA Airtours London Gatwick
De Havilland Comet 4C G-ARJL of BEA Airtours at London Gatwick in 1972 Date: 1972

King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit of Thailand
An official two-day state visit to the UK by King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) (1927-) and Queen Sirikit (1932-) of Thailand - arriving at Gatwick Airport. Date: 1960

Douglas DC-3 G-AGJV Derby Airways Gatwick 1961
Douglas DC-3 G-AGJV operated by Derby Airways at London Gatwick in June 1961 Date: 1961

Plane Spotters
Silhouettes of two plane spotters at London Gatwick Airport, England

Caravelle Jets
Three Societa Aerea Mediterranea Caravelle Jets being refuelled at London Gatwick Airport

Duty Free Gatwick
Travellers browsing around in the Duty Free zone of Gatwick airport, London

DAN-AIR de Havilland Comet 4C G-APDN at Gatwick Airport. DAN-AIR started life as Davies and Newman Airlines after the two founders

Beechcraft 65-B80 Queen Air XB-MIL, at Gatwick Airport, in company with Beagle Airedale G-ATAW and de Havilland Dove G-ARUM. Date: circa 1969

Westland Whirlwind Series 1 G-ANFH and Bell 47B-3 G-AKFN
Westland Whirlwind Series 1 G-ANFH (msn WA15) at Gatwick. Built 1953 and delivered from Yeovil to Gatwick on 2 November 1954 for British European Airways

Hawker Siddeley HS-121 Trident 1C
A Bea Trident 1C Making an Automatic Final-Approach and Landing at Gatwick During Autoland Trials Date: 1960s

BAC 1-11 509EW
British Caledonian Bcal BAC 1-11 500 Parked with Airstairs Date: 1970s

Beech Model H18 G-ASNX (msn BA-663), of the Cameron Iron Works Ltd. of Leeds, Yorkshire, at Gatwick Airport in April 1969

Westland Whirlwind HAR. 10 XP351
Royal Air Force - Westland Whirlwind HAR.10 XP351 (msn WA367), of No. 22 Squadron RAF, on standby for rescue call-out on a very frosty morning

BAC One Eleven-509EW G-AWWX (msn BAC.184), of Caledonian Airways, at London Gatwick Airport in August 1969. Date: 1969

Bristol Britannia 301 G-AOVJ (msn ), of Caledonian Airways, at London Gatwick Airport in 1968 Date: 1968

de Havilland DH. 104 Dove 1B G-ANAN
de Havilland DH.104 Dove 1B G-ANAN (msn 04062), of Morton Air Services, at London Gatwick Airport. Date: 1969

Boeing 747-4Q8 G-VBIG (msn 26255, line number 1081), of Virgin Atlantic Airlines, at Gatwick Airport in September 1997. Date: 1997

Boeing 767-231ER N601TW (msn 24564, line number 14, fleet number 16001), of Trans World Airlines, at Gatwick Airport in September 1997. Date: 1997

Boeing 757-28A C-FXOF (msn 24544, line number 280), of Canada 3000 Airlines, at Gatwick Airport in September 1997. Date: 1997

McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 F-GNEM (msn 46892, line number 204), of AOM French Airlines, at Gatwick Airport in September 1997. Date: 1997

McDonnell Douglas MD-83 OH-LPD
McDonnell Douglas MD-81 OH-LPD (msn 49710, line number 1547), of Finnair, at Gatwick Airport in September 1997. Date: 1997

Airbus A300B4-203 EI-TLK (msn 161) of TransAer International Airlines, at Gatwick Airport in September 1997. Date: 1997

Boeing 767-39H(ER) G-UKLI (msn 26257, line number 488) of Leisure International Airways, at Gatwick Airport in September 1997. Date: 1997

Airbus A310-304 C-GRYD (msn 435, line number 385) of Royal Airlines, at Gatwick Airport in September 1997. Date: 1997

Gatwick Airport, showing Terminal building and rail links
Gatwick Airport, Surrey - showing Terminal building (the Beehive opened in 1936) and rail links via the Brighton Main Line. The main airport today is north of this site. Date: 1938

It is a long wait for planes at Gatwick airport, due to fog, the only aerodrome open for the air liners in London, the queues grew all day long. 6th December 1962

Immigrant Girl at Gatwick Airport. This girl, unnamed, is one of hundreds of Indian and Pakistani immigrants who have flown onto British soil from Kenya. Picture taken circa 4th March 1968

Immigrants at Nairobi Airport, Kenya, eagerly awaiting a flight to Britain and a new life. Picture taken 12th February 1968

Piper PA-22 Caribbean SE-CSX
Piper PA-22-150 Caribbean SE-CSX (msn 22-7273), owned by U Knppel, of Stockholm, at Gatwick Airport on 23 July 1961 Date: 1961

Convair CV-640 PH-MAL (msn 332) of Martinair Holland at Gatwick Airport Date: 1967-1970

Unloading racehorses, Gatwick Airport, Sussex
Unloading racehorses at Gatwick Airport, Sussex, England, from a Dan Air Douglas DC-7 freighter. Date: 1960s

BAC One-Eleven-201AC G-AS?? of British United Airways at Gatwick Airport Date: circa 1968

Agusta-Bell AB. 206A Jet Ranger G-AWGU
Agusta-Bell AB.206A Jet Ranger G-AWGU (msn 8044), of BEA Helicopters at Gatwick Airport. Built by Construzioni Aeronautiche Giovanni Agusta S.p.A in Italy in 1968

BAC One-Eleven 501EX G-AWYT of British United Airlines at Gatwick Airport, with another. Date: circa 1969

Boeing 707-320F 5X-UWM of Simb Air - East African Airways at London Gatwick Airport. Date: mid-1970s

Cessna 320 HB-LCI at Gatwick Airport Date: 1970s

SAI KZ-3 OY-DEB, at London Gatwick, in 1949
SAI KZ-3 OY-DEB, (SAI - Skandinavisk Aero Industri A-S, Denmark), at Gatwick airport in 1949. The SAI KZ III Laerke (Lark)

Waverley GU8 6 Map
Postcode Sector Map of Waverley GU8 6

Gloucester GL14 1 Map
Postcode Sector Map of Gloucester GL14 1

Visit to the UK - King Bhumibol & Queen Sirikit of Thailand
An official two-day state visit to the UK by King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) (1927-) and Queen Sirikit (1932-) of Thailand - greeted at Gatwick Airport by Princess Alexandra (1936-). Date: 1960

New Extended Gatwick Airport, South London 1958
Illustration by George Horace Davis, showing the transport links by road and railway to the new extended international Gatwick airport, and the 7000ft long runway with reflective lights

De Havilland Comet 4C G-BDIX Dan-Air London c 1976
De Havilland Comet 4C G-BDIX Dan-Air London, ex RAF 216 Sqn, at London Gatwick 1976 Date: circa 1976

London Gatwick Airport
Passengers sitting on the rather uncomfortable looking modern seats at London Gatwick Airport, England

King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit - Victoria Station
An official two-day state visit to the UK by King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) (1927-) and Queen Sirikit (1932-) of Thailand - at Victoria Station in conversation with the Duke of Edinburgh

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"Discovering the Timeless Charm of Gatwick: A Journey Through Aviation History" Step back in time to 1937, where the iconic beehive terminal building at Gatwick Airport stood as a symbol of progress and innovation. Located in Sussex, England, this historical landmark has witnessed countless stories unfold within its walls. Gatwick Airport, nestled in the picturesque countryside of the United Kingdom, holds a special place in Europe's aviation history. From its humble beginnings to becoming one of the busiest airports today, it has played host to remarkable moments that shaped air travel. One such moment was when the De Havilland Comet 4C G-ARJL from BEA Airtours London Gatwick took flight, showcasing cutting-edge technology and setting new standards for passenger comfort. Gatwick Airport also welcomed distinguished guests like King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit of Thailand. Their visit added a touch of royalty to this bustling hub of international travel. In 1961, Douglas DC-3 G-AGJV from Derby Airways graced Gatwick's runways with elegance and grace. This aircraft epitomized an era when flying was considered glamorous and luxurious. Plane spotters have always been captivated by Gatwick's charm - eagerly awaiting Caravelle Jets' arrival or capturing rare sightings like Lockheed CC130E Hercules 10312 soaring through the skies above. No trip to Gatwick would be complete without exploring its renowned duty-free shopping experience. The allure of tax-free goods entices travelers from around the world as they indulge their senses amidst an array of luxury brands. The friendly smiles and impeccable service provided by air hostesses add another layer to Gatwick's appeal. These ambassadors ensure passengers feel welcome throughout their journey – creating unforgettable memories along the way. As we reflect on these glimpses into history at Gatwick Airport since its inception in 1936 until now, we are reminded of the remarkable progress made in aviation.