Stansted gets green light to increase passenger limit

Image courtesy MAG
 
Uttlesford District Council has given the green light to Stansted’s application, which paves the way for it to make best use of its existing single runway and grow passenger volumes towards the new limit over the next two decades.  
 
As a result of this permission, Stansted will be able to do that without any increase in the number of flights the airport is already permitted to operate and within the existing airport boundary.
 
Full approval is subject to the final sign-off of an extensive S106 community package of support. Once completed, it will enable the airport to grow in the future towards 51 million passengers per annum (mppa) from its current total of 30 million.
 
Growing Stansted to that new limit would unlock:  

• 4,500 new jobs, supported by the airport’s existing training and education facilities. 
• Improvements to M11 Junction 8 to reduce congestion. 
• Funds for local bus services, roads and tackling fly-parking.
• Half of all passenger journeys by public transport, to relieve pressure on local roads.

Gareth Powell, London Stansted’s Managing Director, said: “We are pleased Uttlesford District Council has approved our application, which lays the foundations for the long-term sustainable growth of London Stansted and means we can maximise the full potential of our existing runway.

“The opportunity is considerable as the full expansion of Stansted would deliver widespread social and economic benefits to the regions we serve, without any increase in the number of flights the airport is already permitted to operate and within the existing airport footprint.

“That will enable us to create thousands of new jobs, provide training opportunities to the next generation of aviation professionals and attract new routes that give people more opportunities to visit the places they want to.  

“As we grow our airport over the next 20 years, we will do it sustainably – decarbonising our operations and ensuring half of all passengers accessing the airport do so via public transport.
 
“Our plans were strongly backed by thousands of local people, businesses and airport partners, so I would like to thank them for their valued support and look forward to working together to turn our ambition for London Stansted into reality.”

Stansted Airport served nearly 30 million passengers in 2024, making it the third busiest airport in London and the fourth busiest in the UK.