A £600m terminal extension is set to be the centrepiece of Stansted’s £1.1 billion investment programme.
London Stansted airport is embarking on an exciting new chapter thanks to an impressive investment that will enable it to serve up to 43 million passengers per year and secure links to a wider network of destinations. The expansion plans are also expected to create up to 5,000 jobs on site and see the airport’s economic contribution double to £2 billion annually.
Wide-ranging benefits
Expanded seating, new retail as well as food and beverage concessions and a bright, spacious environment are all part of the airport’s expansion plans, which were announced at the UK government’s International Investment Summit on 13 October. There are also plans for a 14.3MW on-site solar farm, new wayfinding kiosks across the terminal, refurbishment of terminal washroom facilities, gate room reconfiguration to create more space an airfield taxiway upgrade.
Planning permission for the extension was secured a year ago in October 2023 and are in line with the need to accommodate increasing passenger traffic. This year has seen the airport report record-breaking passenger numbers for each month with 29.3 million passengers already served by the airport in the year to September 2024.
New chapter
“Stansted is embarking on an exciting new chapter,” said Gareth Powell, London Stansted’s Managing Director. “We aim to add even more choice of airlines to continue growing our extensive route network that is valued and enjoyed by the millions of passengers who choose to fly from London Stansted every year.”
The airport is unique among its competitors, operating a single terminal which has enabled it to ensure a simple, efficient, seamless experience. “These exciting plans mean we are now able to retain all those benefits, while introducing an array of exciting new facilities and giving us the space we need to grow,” Powell continued.
“This is a really exciting time for everyone connected with Stansted as we know we have a critical role to play in serving the future capacity needs of London,” he said. He also highlighted that his teams have considered every touch point of a passenger’s journey through the terminal to ensure the extension transforms the airport experience by adding more space, choice, comfort and range of services on offer, from check-in right through to arrivals.”
The last 12 months have seen the airport welcome several new airlines including Royal Jordanian and Sun Express, while British Airways has resumed services from Stansted.
