London Gatwick
Airport
The world’s busiest single-runway airport, 28 miles south of London. Level 3 slots and mandatory handling, but general aviation is workable here in a way it is not at Heathrow, and the train to Victoria is 30 minutes.
Reviewed by Kevin Singh, Founder · Fact-checked against Icarus Jet fleet and airport operations data · Last updated 2 September 2026
The Airport
Gatwick at a glance
Gatwick carries the ICAO code EGKK and the identifier LGW. A 10,879 foot main runway with an 8,415 foot standby, at 203 feet elevation, with ICAO Category 10 fire cover, about 28 miles south of central London.
It is ACL Level 3 slot coordinated and the busiest single-runway airport in the world. Slots at peak are tight; general aviation is nonetheless a normal part of the operation.
The Constraint
One runway at a time
Gatwick’s two runways are too close together to run simultaneously. 08L/26R is a standby, used only when the main runway is closed. Everything else runs on 08R/26L, which is why Gatwick holds the record for the busiest single-runway operation anywhere.
That is also why slot pressure here is real. Every movement needs an ACL slot, scarcer in summer and at the morning and evening peaks, and handling is mandatory. Night movements are restricted under a quota and noise classification.
Unlike Heathrow, general aviation is workable at Gatwick and aircraft can park. It is not a dedicated business aviation field, but it is a usable one.
Why here
The south, and the train
Gatwick serves the south of London, Surrey, Sussex and Kent. The Brighton main line puts Victoria about 30 minutes away, which for a central London meeting can beat a car from Farnborough.
It also serves passengers connecting onto scheduled flights, where being at the same airport is the whole point. For a pure business aviation arrival in the south east, Biggin Hill is usually the better field.
The UK requires no landing permit for most private and charter flights, but a General Aviation Report must be filed with Border Force before arrival. We file it with the slot and the handling.
History
London’s second airport
The site began as an aerodrome in the 1930s beside the Gatwick racecourse. The modern airport opened in 1958 as London’s second airport and grew through the charter and low cost boom into the busiest single-runway airport in the world.
A second full runway has been proposed and refused repeatedly, which is why the standby runway remains a standby and why the slot regime is what it is.
Nearby
Gatwick and the London fields
London has more business aviation airports than any city in Europe. Gatwick is the southern commercial gateway.
EGLLLondon HeathrowEGSSLondon StanstedEGGWLondon LutonEGLCLondon City
EGWURAF NortholtEGLFFarnboroughEGKBLondon Biggin HillEGTKLondon OxfordEGLDDenham Aerodrome
Biggin Hill for a dedicated business aviation arrival in the south east, no slots, long hours. Farnborough for the south west. Heathrow only for scheduled connections. Luton and Stansted for the north. London City for the financial district.
Airport guides & index
Questions
Gatwick, answered
Can private jets use Gatwick?
Yes. Gatwick has a 10,879 foot main runway, Category 10 fire cover and a business aviation handling presence. It is ACL Level 3 slot coordinated and handling is mandatory. It is the world's busiest single-runway airport, so slots at peak are tight, but general aviation is more workable here than at Heathrow and parking is possible.
Why is Gatwick described as single runway when it has two?
Because the two runways are too close together to operate simultaneously. 08L/26R is a standby, used only when the main runway 08R/26L is closed for maintenance or an incident. In practice Gatwick runs one runway at a time, which is why it holds the record for the busiest single-runway operation in the world and why slot pressure is what it is.
How long are the runways at Gatwick?
The main runway 08R/26L is 3,316 metres, about 10,879 feet, by 148 feet. The standby 08L/26R is 2,565 metres, about 8,415 feet. Field elevation is 203 feet.
Does Gatwick need a slot?
Yes, Gatwick is Level 3 coordinated by ACL and every movement needs an allocated slot. Slots are requested through the coordinator and are scarcer in the summer season and at morning and evening peaks. Ground handling is mandatory and is arranged alongside.
When does Gatwick make sense for a private flight?
For the south of London and Surrey, Sussex and Kent, and for passengers connecting onto a scheduled flight from Gatwick. The Brighton main line puts Victoria about 30 minutes away by train, which for some itineraries beats a car from Farnborough.
Gatwick or Biggin Hill for south London?
Biggin Hill for a pure business aviation arrival: no slots, long hours and a 12 mile run to the centre. Gatwick where the connection to a scheduled flight matters, where the destination is Sussex or the south coast, or where the aircraft is too large for Biggin Hill's 5,971 foot runway.
Is there a night restriction at Gatwick?
Yes, night movements are restricted under a quota system with noise classification, in the same framework as Heathrow and Stansted. Late arrivals and early departures need planning against the published night period.
Is ground handling mandatory at Gatwick?
Yes, through an approved handler. The arrangement is made with the slot request.
Do you need a permit to fly into the UK?
No landing permit for most private and charter operations, but a General Aviation Report must be filed with UK Border Force before arrival. At a coordinated airport the slot is the hard requirement. We file the GAR, slot and handling together.
What is the history of Gatwick?
The site began as an aerodrome in the 1930s beside the Gatwick racecourse, and the modern airport opened in 1958 as London's second airport. It grew through the charter and low cost boom into the busiest single-runway airport in the world, and a second runway has been proposed and refused repeatedly.
What time zone is London in?
Greenwich Mean Time in winter and British Summer Time from late March to late October, which is UTC+0 and UTC+1 respectively.
Get Your Number
Request a London charter
Tell us where in London or the south you are going and whether anyone is connecting onward. We file the ACL slot, the mandatory handling and the GAR together, and we will say if Biggin Hill serves you better.
Prefer to talk? Call +1 888 277 7203 or email charter@icarusjet.com. The desk is staffed 24/7.