Stansted could serve 51 million passengers a year by late 2030s with no physical expansion

Management are studying a blueprint to sweep Stansted way beyond the current 43m passengers a year limit, still just using the one runway. They will share the plans with relevant parties over time.

That annual passenger limit, incidentally, was based on air traffic forecasts originally prepared in 2018!

Stansted Airport Managing Director Gareth Powell says the subtle expansion strategy will be aligned with the draft Sustainable Development Plan which details growth proposals for the coming decades.

It is designed to accommodate anticipated additional services from current and new international airlines, with whom Stansted holds regular dialogue. And any growth must be strictly sustainable, Powell stresses.

Stansted is already the East of England region’s largest employer, supporting more than 12,000 local jobs, and currently supports 30 million passengers using the airport every year.

Powell said: “Over the next 15-20 years we expect the airport’s popularity and its connectivity to global destinations to grow. Our airline partners are ordering bigger, more environmentally efficient planes.

“This means more seats available for passengers to travel to and from our airport to more destinations as we grow our reach, offer and customer experience in the years to come. Realising this potential will bring more local jobs and better connections to the world.

“Importantly, our plan is based on making the best use on what we have – a single runway within the same boundaries. It also honours our commitment to ensure that more than half of all passenger journeys to the airport remain on public transport which will ease pressure on local roads.

“So too we will continue to grow our contribution locally through offering quality skills and training opportunities for young people, growing the Stansted Airport College.

“And we will ensure that the Airport’s sustainable growth provides thousands more worthwhile careers for all those who seek to work with us.”

Im May 2023 major Stansted operator Ryanair committed to buying more than 150 of Boeing’s 737-Max 10 planes which have capacity for an additional 40 seats to each of the current aircraft.

Another major operator, Jet2, has increased its order for the Airbus 321neo aircraft which have materially greater seating capacity to the current offering.

Stansted says the environmental impact of any aspect of proposed expansion will continue to be closely monitored. It expects the ongoing assessments to find no material increase in the environmental effects of the airport’s proposed growth.

• To view the plan, visit https://indd.adobe.com/view/04250075-bb8f-46a7-b2eb-ec1247a36740