View source for London International Airport

{{Short description|Airport in Ontario, Canada}}
{{About|the airport in London, Ontario, Canada|international airports serving London, England, United Kingdom|Airports of London|other uses|London Airport (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox airport
| name = London International Airport
| image = YXU airport logo.png
| image-width = 220
| image2 = London International Airport exterior.jpg
| image2-width = 250
| caption2 = London International Airport
| IATA = YXU
| ICAO = CYXU
| WMO = 71623
| type = Public
| owner = [[Transport Canada]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tc.gc.ca/programs/Airports/Status/menu.htm|title=The page has moved - La page a été déménagée|website=www.tc.gc.ca|access-date=25 March 2018}}</ref>
| operator = Greater London International Airport Authority
| city-served = [[London, Ontario|London]], [[Ontario]]
| location = London, Ontario
| timezone = [[Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
| utc = [[UTC−05:00]]
| summer = EDT
| utcs = [[UTC−04:00]]
| elevation-f = 912
| coordinates = {{coord|format=dms|region:CA-ON|display=inline,title}}
| pushpin_map = Canada Ontario#Canada
| pushpin_label = CYXU
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Ontario
| website = [https://www.flyyxu.ca https://www.flyyxu.ca]
| r1-number = 15/33
| r1-length-f = 8,800
| r1-surface = Asphalt
| r2-number = 09/27
| r2-length-f = 6,300
| r2-surface = Asphalt
| stat-year = 2024
| stat1-header = Aircraft movements
| stat1-data = 97,400
| stat2-header = Total passengers
| stat2-data = 314,441
| footnotes = Sources: [[Canada Flight Supplement]]<ref name="CFS">{{CFS}}</ref><br>[[Environment Canada]]<ref>[http://climate.weatheroffice.gc.ca/prods_servs/metstat1_e.html Synoptic/Metstat Station Information] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111201114641/http://climate.weatheroffice.gc.ca/prods_servs/metstat1_e.html |date=2011-12-01 }}</ref><br>Movements from [[Statistics Canada]]<ref name="move">{{cite web|title=Aircraft movements, by class of operation, airports with NAV CANADA services and other selected airports, monthly| date=February 29, 2024 |url=https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=2310029601|publisher=Statistics Canada|access-date=March 1, 2024}}</ref><br>Passenger statistics from London International<ref name="pax">{{cite web | url=https://flyyxu.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/2024-Annual-Report_web.pdf| title=London International Airport 2024 Annual Report |website=flyyxu.ca |access-date=July 6, 2025 }}</ref>
}}

The '''London International Airport''' {{Airport codes|YXU|CYXU}} is an  [[airport]] located in [[London, Ontario]], Canada. It is located {{convert|5|NM|lk=in}} northeast of the city of [[London, Ontario]] and is classified as an [[airport of entry]] by [[Transport Canada]]. In 2023, the airport was listed as the [[List of the busiest airports in Canada|17th busiest]] airport in Canada in terms of aircraft movements with 102,122 flights.<ref name="move"/> The airport posted a record 683,000 travelers in 2019 and 332,447 passengers in 2023.<ref name="pax"/> It is serviced year-round by [[Air Canada Express]] and [[WestJet]], and seasonally by [[Air Transat]].

The airport is staffed by the [[Canada Border Services Agency]] (CBSA). CBSA officers at this airport can handle aircraft with no more than 180&nbsp;passengers; however, they can handle up to 450 if the aircraft is unloaded in stages.<ref name="CFS"/>

==History==

===London Airport, 1929–1942===
[[File:RCAF Crumlin Aerial View 1940s.jpg|thumb|left|Crumlin Airfield {{circa|1942}}]]
In January 1927 the City of London selected a site for an airfield at Lambeth, Ontario near {{Coord|42|55|00|N|081|17|00|W|type:airport_region:CA-ON|name=London Airport 1929}}; the adjacent road to the east between Southdale and Exeter was known as Airport Road up through 1989.  (The town of Westminster was established in 1989, all rural roads were named by the town, and Airport Road was renamed as [[Wonderland Road]], with which it was aligned since 1971.) A group of local businessmen acquired the site in 1928 and by 3 May 1929 an airport license was issued to '''London Airport Ltd.'''<ref name=mcgrath>{{cite book|last1=McGrath|first1=T.M.|title=History of Canadian Airports|date=1992|publisher=Lugus Publications in co-operation with Transport Canada|location=Ottawa|isbn=0-921633-11-4|edition=2nd}}</ref> The London Flying Club was formed in 1928 and became a tenant of the new airport.<ref group=note>In 1927 the Government of Canada started a program to stimulate the growth of civil aviation through the creation of flying clubs. Groups that could provide a suitable airfield with facilities and at least 30 members were supplied with two aircraft and awarded $100 for each member who qualified as a pilot. The London Flying Club was established under this program.</ref> The airfield was used for flying instruction, private aviation, and for air mail. By 1933 it had become too small for some commercial aircraft.

The London Flying Club continued to use the Lambeth airfield until 7 August 1942.

===London City Airport, 1940–1945===

In 1935 the city decided to replace the original London Airport. Site surveys and consultations took place and on 9 September 1939, at the start of [[World War II]], work began on a new airport located near Crumlin. The city leased the new airport to the [[Government of Canada]], [[Transport Canada|Department of Transport]] on 24 January 1940 for the duration of the war.

Runways 14-32 and 05-23 were paved and ready for use by July 1940 and the [[Royal Canadian Air Force]] established '''RCAF Station Crumlin''' on part of the airport.<ref name="hatch">Hatch, F. J. (1983).''The Aerodrome of Democracy: Canada and the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, 1939-1945''. Ottawa: Directorate of History, Department of National Defence. {{ISBN|0660114437}}</ref><ref name="forsyth">[http://www.militarybruce.com/history/base-history_13.html Military Bruce Historical Writings by Bruce Forsyth] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023055938/http://www.militarybruce.com/history/base-history_13.html |date=2013-10-23 }}</ref> This air station was host to '''No. 3 Elementary Flying Training School (EFTS)''' and '''No. 4 Air Observer School (AOS)''', both part of the [[British Commonwealth Air Training Plan]].

The airport remained under civilian management and was used for civil and military aviation during the war years. The licence for '''London City Airport''' was issued on 6 May 1941. Improvements made during this time include:

* main terminal building (civilian) opened in July 1942
* [[Trans-Canada Airlines]] began serve to the airport in July 1942.
* runway 08-26 added in 1943.

British Commonwealth Air Training Plan operations ended on 31 December 1944 with the closure of No. 4 Air Observer School.

The [[RAF Transport Command|Royal Air Force Transport Command, No. 45 Group]] established the '''Mosquito Preparation and Despatching Unit''' at London on 10 January 1945. This detachment had twenty three members and test flew [[De Havilland Mosquito]]s built in Toronto before they were flown overseas.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Christie |first1=Carl |title=Ocean Bridge The History of RAF Ferry Command |date=1995 |publisher=University of Toronto Press |location=Toronto and Buffalo |isbn=978-0-8020-8131-5 |page=229}}</ref>

After the war the airport remained under the control of the Department of Transport.<ref group=note>Many municipalities in Canada declined to accept responsibility for their airports after the war and so the Government of Canada, Department of Transport became the operator of most of the larger airports in the country.</ref>

====Aerodrome information====
In approximately 1942 the aerodrome was listed at {{coord|43|02|N|81|09|W|region:CA-ON}} with a Var. 5 degrees W and elevation of {{Convert|899|ft|0}}. Two runways were listed as follows:
<ref name=Handbook>{{cite book |title= Pilots Handbook of Aerodromes and Seaplane Bases Vol. 1|publisher= Royal Canadian Air Force |page= 132|date= c. 1942}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Runway name
! Total length
! Total width
! Paved length
! Paved width
|-
| 5/23
| {{Convert|3400|ft|0}}
| {{Convert|500|ft|0}}
| {{Convert|3150|ft|0}}
| {{Convert|150|ft|0}}
|-
| 4/22
| {{Convert|3400|ft|0}}
| {{Convert|500|ft|0}}
| {{Convert|3150|ft|0}}
| {{Convert|150|ft|0}}
|}

===Postwar RCAF operations 1945–1961===
[[File:Canadair T-33 YXU.jpg|thumb|The [[Canadair CT-133 Silver Star|Canadair CT-133]] aircraft mounted in front of the main terminal building]]

After [[World War II]] RCAF reserve or ''auxiliary'' squadrons were given the task of defending Canada's major cities.<ref>{{cite web|last1=anonymous|title=Air Reserve|url=http://www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/en/air-reserve/index.page|work=Canadian Forces|access-date=19 Nov 2014|archive-date=5 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200205213658/http://rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/en/air-reserve/index.page|url-status=dead}}</ref> 420 Squadron reformed as City of London 420 (Fighter) Auxiliary Squadron at the airport in September 1948. Initially equipped with [[North American T-6 Texan|Harvard]] aircraft, the squadron upgraded to [[North American P-51 Mustang|Mustang]]s in 1952 and [[Canadair CT-133 Silver Star|Canadair CT-133]] jets in 1954. The squadron disbanded in 1957. [[Air Defence Command (Canada)|Air Defence Command]] reformed 2420 Aircraft Control and Warning (Auxiliary) Squadron at London on 1 July 1956. 2420 trained Fighter Control operators and disbanded on 31 May 1961.

'''RCAF Station London''' opened in 1950 to support a [[NATO Air Training Plan|NATO Induction and Training Centre]], later moved to [[RCAF Station Centralia|Centralia]]. The station closed on 30 September 1958.

As a tribute to this period, a Canadair CT-133 aircraft in former [[Royal Canadian Air Force]] livery is mounted in front of the main terminal building.

===Capital improvements since 1950===
[[File:London International Airport check-in.jpg|thumb|right|Interior of London International Airport]]
The airport has been continuously improved since World War II as navigation and air traffic control systems evolved, and as commercial aircraft became larger and larger. These improvements include:

* 1950, installation of the Instrument Landing System (ILS) on runway 14-32
* 1955, runway 14-32 lengthened to 6,000 feet to accommodate the [[Vickers Viscount]]
* 1960, Meteorological Branch weather station opened
* 1965, new terminal building opened
* 1968, [[Air Canada]] begins [[DC-9]] jet service
* 1974, runway 14-32 lengthened to 8,800 feet to accommodate [[DC-8]], [[Boeing 707]] and [[Boeing 747|747]], and [[Lockheed L-1011|L-1011]] aircraft
* 1988, runway 05-23 decommissioned
* 1990, new radar system installed
* 1998, control of the airport was transferred from [[Transport Canada]] to the Greater London International Airport Authority
* 2003, main terminal building completely renovated and expanded
*2019, taxiway G is completely rebuilt


==Airlines and destinations==

===Passenger===
<!-- Please use only independent sources. The airport and airlines itself are not independent sources. -->
{{Airport-dest-list
<!-- -->
| {{nowrap|[[Air Canada Express]]}} | [[Toronto Pearson International Airport|Toronto–Pearson]]<ref>{{OAGWorldJuly2025Ref|title=Toronto, ON, Canada YTO|pages=1156-1162}}</ref>
<!-- -->
| [[Air Transat]] | '''Seasonal:''' [[Cancún International Airport|Cancún]],{{cn|date=May 2025}} [[Punta Cana International Airport|Punta Cana]]{{cn|date=May 2025}}
<!-- -->
| [[WestJet]] | [[Calgary International Airport|Calgary]]<ref>{{OAGWorldJuly2025Ref|title=Calgary, AB, Canada YYC|pages=204-206}}</ref> <br> '''Seasonal:''' [[Cancún International Airport|Cancún]], [[Punta Cana International Airport|Punta Cana]], [[Juan Gualberto Gómez Airport|Varadero]],{{cn|date=July 2025}} [[Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport|Winnipeg]] (begins May 17, 2026)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/london/article/westjet-reintroducing-london-ont-to-winnipeg-route-in-spring-2026/|title=WestJet reintroducing London, Ont. to Winnipeg route in spring 2026|publisher=CTV|date=November 18, 2025|accessdate=November 18, 2025}}</ref>
}}

==Other tenants==
* [[CHC Helicopter]] - [[Ornge]] (Ontario Air Ambulance)
* [[Jet Aircraft Museum]] - currently operates three [[Canadair CT-133 Silver Star]]s, otherwise known as the T-bird
* Executive Aviation - [[World Fuel Services]]-affiliated [[fixed-base operator]]<ref>[http://www.executiveaviation.ca Executive Aviation]</ref>
* Trek Aviation - aircraft maintenance and consulting services<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.trekaviation.com|title=Trek Aviation|website=www.trekaviation.com|access-date=25 March 2018}}</ref>
* Flite Line Services London - [[Shell Canada|Shell]]-affiliated fixed-base operator<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fliteline.ca/london |title=Flite Line Services London|author=Flite Line Services Kitchener Inc.|website=fliteline.ca|access-date=27 June 2019}}</ref>
* [[Diamond Aircraft Industries|Diamond Aircraft]] - light aircraft manufacturer
* Discovery Air - niche flight services
* Diamond Flight Centre - flight training school
* AFS Aerial Photography - [[aerial photography]] services
* 427 (London) Wing - Air Force Association of Canada<ref>{{cite web|url=http://427wing.com/|title=427 (London) Wing|website=427wing.com|access-date=25 March 2018}}</ref>
* [[List of test pilot schools|International Test Pilots School]]
* London Air Cargo

London International Airport Fire Crash and Rescue Station provides fire and rescue operations at the airport with three crash tenders based on Blair Boulevard.

==Statistics==

===Annual traffic===
{{Airport-Statistics|iata=YXU}}

==Ground transportation==
Shuttle service is available for passengers wishing to connect to flights at [[Toronto Pearson International Airport]] in [[Toronto]].

[[London Transit|London Transit Commission]] provides bus service between the airport and [[Fanshawe College]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.londontransit.ca/route/route-36-fanshawe-college-london-airport-effective-september-3-2023/|title=Route 36 – Fanshawe College – London Airport|website=London Transit}}</ref>

==Airshow London==
The airport is home to the annual Airshow London, the largest military airshow in Canada. It showcases ground and air display of military aircraft from the air forces of Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://airshowlondon.com/|access-date=2 August 2023|title=Homepage}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of airports in the London, Ontario area]]

==Notes==
{{reflist | group=note}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[https://www.flyyxu.ca Official website]
{{Can-arpt-wx|CYXU|London International Airport}}

{{Airports in Ontario}}
{{List of airports in Canada}}
{{London, Ontario}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Certified airports in Ontario]]
[[Category:Transport in London, Ontario]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in London, Ontario]]
[[Category:Companies based in London, Ontario]]
[[Category:National Airports System]]
[[Category:Airports established in 1929]]
[[Category:1929 establishments in Ontario]]