History of Airport House

Airport House, with its imposing façade, was the world’s first purpose-built commercial airport. Croydon Airport evolved from First World War aerodromes, and opened on 29th March 1920. The following year it was the first airport in the world to introduce air traffic control.

Airport House as we know it was opened on 2nd May 1928. The impressive Art Deco building, hotel and hangar were built at a cost of £267,000.

Visitors still sense the glamour of the early days of air travel, when regular scheduled flights carried passengers, freight and mail to Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Berlin.

Famous flyers from the thriving airport included: Amy Johnson, who took off from Croydon on her record-breaking solo flight to Darwin, Australia; American aviator Charles Lindbergh, who flew into Croydon after completing the first solo transatlantic flight; and Winston Churchill, who took flying lessons at the airport.

Croydon was London’s first international airport and the UK’s main civil airport until 1939, when it was taken over by the RAF and played a vital role as a fighter station during the Battle of Britain.

By 1946, when it reverted to civil use, it was clear that aircraft would need to be bigger to meet the growing demand for travel. Croydon was too small for the major airlines, which moved to Heathrow, and was only used by small independent airlines and private flying clubs until the decision was taken to close it down.

Croydon Airport's last scheduled flight departed on 30th September 1959 at 6.15pm.