Stansted Airport gears up for 350,000 passengers this Easter weekend
Stansted Airport is gearing up for its biggest weekend of the year so far, with 350,000 people expected to travel between Good Friday and Easter Monday (April 7-10).
Friday is predicted to be the busiest for departures and arrivals, with almost 90,000 passengers.
Some of the most popular sun destinations from the airport over the weekend include the Canary Islands, Turkey, Spain and Dubai, while end-of-season skiers will be making their way to France, Italy, Austria, Switzerland and Scandinavia.
Ahead of the getaway, the airport is encouraging passengers to take some simple steps to help their journey through the terminal go as smoothly as possible.
Jonathan Fowler, chief operating officer, said: "Our staff will work around the clock to provide the best service possible to the 350,000 passengers who will pass through during the Easter weekend.
"For a stress-free and enjoyable start to their holiday, we recommend customers prepare for security checks before leaving home to avoid any unnecessary delays."
Earlier this week, London City Airport followed Teesside Airport in scrapping the 100ml liquid limit for hand luggage by using hi-tech scanners which also enable electronics to be kept in bags at security.
Travellers can now carry on up to two litres of liquid, and toiletries no longer have to be separated in a plastic bag.
The Government has set a June 2024 deadline for most UK airports to install the machines. Stansted is already testing the technology, but the roll-out will take longer at the country's largest hubs.
Mr Fowler said: "It's important to remember that liquids in hand luggage are still restricted [at Stansted], so they must be under 100ml and fit in a single clear, resealable bag.
"All electronic items, including laptops and iPads, must be removed from hand luggage and laid flat in trays as soon as passengers enter the security search area.
"For check-in or bag drop, passengers should follow the airline's instructions for arrival times, and we suggest they check in advance for any public transport travel alterations.
"We are also currently conducting passenger trials of new computer tomography (CT) security equipment to comply with regulatory changes requiring all UK airports to replace current X-ray machines and increase body scanners by 2024.
"The feedback we have received so far has been extremely positive, from passengers and colleagues alike, and we aim to roll out more new security lanes later this year.
"Passengers using the regular security lanes in the main search area will not be affected by the trial, which is taking place in a dedicated security building on the terminal forecourt."
In the arrivals area, Stansted has installed new seating with USB and USC charging points, increasing capacity from 160 to 250.
There is also a new Leon restaurant and a revamped Burger King in the area. Several other outlets, including Boots, Marks & Spencer and Costa, will undergo refurbishment before the summer getaway.
In 2022, Stansted was ranked the top-recovering major UK airport, handling 23 million passengers, an 83% increase over 2019 numbers, and had the fewest flight cancellations among large UK airports, according to a report by the Civil Aviation Authority.
