Stansted Airport’s passenger numbers boosted by Easter getaway

Image courtesy MAG

The monthly total was an increase of 3.2% on last year, beating the previous high for April set in 2025 by 80,000 passengers.

The school holiday period saw up to 1.5m passengers pass through the terminal, with nearly 400,000 passengers flying across the bank holiday weekend alone.

The airport’s extensive route network across Europe saw Spain, Italy and Turkey as the most popular countries visited during the month with the top individual destinations being Dublin, Istanbul and Edinburgh.

The conflict in the Middle East did impact some services, including the popular double daily Emirates route to Dubai, meaning fewer flights operated to the region during the period than normal. 
 
Stansted’s rolling total for the 12-months ending April 2026 reached 30.1m, an increase of 0.5% on the previous year.  

Nick Millar, London Stansted’s Operations Director, said: “Last month was another example of the great choice and value we offer passengers, coupled with a smooth and reliable airport experience, continuing to drive strong passenger demand, particularly over the busy Easter holidays.

“Even with a record number of passengers using London Stansted in April, I’m delighted we were able to deliver a really very strong operational performance, both on the airfield and in the terminal, thanks to the dedication and teamwork shown by colleagues right across the airport.

“We are now focussed on the half-term holidays later this month and maintaining a reliable airport operation as we prepare for hundreds of thousands of people to head away on holiday and welcome overseas visitors choosing London Stansted as their gateway to London, the East of England and beyond.”

London Stansted Airport served 30 million passengers in 2025, making it the third busiest airport in London and the fourth busiest in the UK.