Stansted Airport gears up for growth beyond 50 million passengers a year
Stansted Airport predicts up to 51 million passengers a year by the late 2030s – almost 75% more than current numbers.
The Indie understands MAG (Manchester Airports Group), which owns the Uttlesford hub, wants to submit a planning application as soon as next summer.
It would lift the current cap of 43 million passengers a year, granted in 2021, which was based on 2018 forecasts. The number of passengers using the airport in the 12 months to the end of October was 29.45 million.
The projection is revealed in Stansted’s newly published long-term plan for sustainable growth over the next 20 years.
In the 100-page draft Sustainable Development Plan (SDP), MAG makes it clear Stansted can expand its passenger capacity without increasing the number of flights it handles and within the existing airport boundary.
The report says: “Current passenger forecasts and updated analysis of the changes that airlines are making to their fleet show that London Stansted Airport has potential to grow beyond 43 million passengers per annum (mppa) with no change to the present agreed limit of 274,000 aircraft movements.
“We are now exploring an increase of the passenger cap to 48-51 mppa. That growth could be seen by the late 2030s.
“The airline industry is dynamic and continually evolving in response to technological advances in aircraft design and changing passenger requirements.
“There is now a clear need for airports such as London Stansted also to evolve to meet the requirements of the airline industry, the overall growth in the demand for air travel and the increasing expectations of our passengers.”
In October, Stansted announced a five-year £1.1 billion investment programme which includes a £600m extension to the airport’s terminal to create more seating areas, shops, restaurants and bars.
Planning permission for that construction was granted in October 2023 and MAG also has approval for a new arrivals terminal, currently on pause.
Stansted’s growth predictions are being driven by two of its two biggest carriers: Ryanair and Jet2.
In May 2023, the Irish budget airline agreed to buy more than 150 737-Max10 aircraft from Boeing, adding an extra 30-seat capacity compared to the 737-Max8 and 40 seats more than the 737-800 series. By the mid-2030s, 40% of Ryanair’s fleet will be made up of 737-Max10 aircraft.
Jet2 has also publicly committed to – and increased its order of – Airbus 321neo aircraft.
The report says: “This recent trend of our airline partners towards larger, single-aisle aircraft is in part due to growing demand and limited capacity across Europe’s busy airports.
“However, it also reflects the airlines’ commercial strategy of maximising their efficiency by increasing the number of passengers per aircraft movement and a shared ambition in the sector to improve the environmental efficiency of flying.”
The draft SDP outlines how the airport intends to make best use of its single runway and what it will do to maximise the benefits and manage the impact of its operation on surrounding communities. This includes:
Managing director Gareth Powell said: “London Stansted has connected our area with the world, establishing the airport as a driver of economic growth and source of thousands of high-quality jobs and training opportunities while doing so.
“We want to continue to build on this success, growing the nearly 30 million passengers we welcomed this last year. With airlines offering more seats to more destinations, we will improve the choice passengers have, the value travel we offer and make the most of our efficient terminal that is well connected to the local area.
“We’re proud of the role we play locally, have always taken our responsibilities seriously and will continue to do so as we make best use of our existing single runway, providing even more employment opportunities and working closely with local businesses to help them grow as the airport does.
“Over the coming months, we will be engaging widely with our local community on what the plan will involve, to ensure those who live and work near the airport and those who take advantage of the connectivity we provide get a chance to help shape the airport’s future.”
