Originally Posted by
Mr Oleo Strut
original drawings for Terminal 2 which indicated parking spaces for no more than fifty cars. How did they imagine people would arrive and depart? Chauffeur driven limos, perhaps.
Actually, by airline coach from the town terminal. This was the accepted mode worldwide, people were not expected to make their own way to the airport. Most travellers were anticipated to be in central hotels, both before and after the flight. Few departures before 0900, where you likely are going straight from home, and not a high proportion at that time had a car available. Those that had them would find them unreliable after several days standing; UK airport parking provision still made the distinction between open and under cover (ie didn't get wet) into the 1970s.
There were of course taxis, whose charges were not as ruinous as nowadays, and some off-airport garages made a living from providing parking spaces. A garage, not just a car park. That meant they had a mechanic to get cars started again if needed.
Jack Bamford, UK manager for Air France both pre- and post-war, wrote that in the 1930s those travelling direct to Croydon airport were few and far between; they mostly came out in the airline bus from Park Lane, and were delivered to a comparable point in Paris.