London Stansted Airport

History

Second World War

Main article: RAF Stansted Mountfitchet

The airfield opened in early July 1943 with a dedication ceremony for the Stansted Airfield with a parade of builders, the 825th Engineer Aviation Battalion EAB and the 850th Engineer Aviation Battalion EAB of the United States Army, along with a small group of the British Royal Engineers who offered to help and wanted to learn how to operate the heavy construction equipment. Stansted Mountfitchet Airport was used during the Second World War as RAF Stansted Mountfitchet by the Royal Air Force and the United States Army Air Forces as a bomber airfield and as a major maintenance depot. Although the official name was Stansted Mountfitchet, the base was known as simply Stansted in both written and spoken form.

The station was first allocated to the USAAF Eighth Air Force in August 1942 as a heavy-bomber airfield. As well as an operational bomber base, Stansted was also an Air Technical Services Command maintenance and supply depot concerned with major overhauls and modification of B-26s. After D-Day, these activities were transferred to France, but the base was still used as a supply storage area for the support of aircraft on the continent.

Postwar use

After the withdrawal of the Americans on 12 August 1945, Stansted was taken over by the Air Ministry and used by No. 263 Maintenance Unit, RAF, for storage purposes. In addition, between March 1946 and August 1947, Stansted was used for housing German prisoners of war.

In November 1946, the recently established British cargo airline, London Aero and Motor Services, equipped with ex-RAF Handley Page Halifaxes, moved into Stansted, using it as a base for its operations until it was wound up in July 1948.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation finally took control of Stansted in 1949 and the airport was then used as a base by several UK charter airlines. The US military returned in 1954 to extend the runway for a possible transfer to NATO. The transfer to NATO was never realised, however, and the airport continued in civil use, ending up under BAA control in 1966.

During the 1960s, '70s, and early '80s, the Fire Service Training School was based on the eastern side of the airfield under the auspices of the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation, now the Civil Aviation Authority. The school was responsible for the training of all aviation fire crews for British airfields, as well as those of many overseas countries.

Under BAA ownership (1966–2013)

Beginning in 1966, after Stansted was placed under BAA control, the airport was used by holiday charter operators wishing to escape the higher costs associated with operating from Heathrow and Gatwick.

Stansted had been held in reserve as a third London airport since the 1950s. However, after a public inquiry at Chelmsford in 1966–67, the government set up the Roskill Commission to review the need afresh. The Commission for the Third London Airport (the "Roskill Commission") of 1968–71 did not include Stansted as one of its four short-listed sites and recommended that Cublington in Buckinghamshire should be developed as London's third airport. However, the Conservative government under Ted Heath agreed with a minority recommendation that a site at Foulness in the Thames Estuary, later renamed Maplin, should be developed, but in 1974, the incoming Labour government under Harold Wilson cancelled the Maplin project because of the economic situation.

Stansted was then considered as an option for long-term development in the Advisory Committee on Airports Policy and the Study Group on South East Airports and was selected from a short list of six by the Conservative government in December 1979. The proposal, for a new terminal associated with the existing runway and the safeguarding of land for a second runway, was considered at the Airports Inquiries of 1981–83. The Inspector's Report was published in 1984 and the decision, announced in a white paper in 1985, was to approve a plan to develop Stansted in two phases, involving both airfield and terminal improvements that would increase the airport's capacity to 15million passengers per year, but to reject the second runway.

Redevelopment into London's third airport

The redevelopment of Stansted into London's third airport began with outline planning permission granted in 1985, for a new terminal building to accommodate up to 15million passengers annually.

Initially, the project was planned in two phases. The first phase was designed to permit an annual capacity of 8million passengers, while the second phase was intended to expand the terminal's capacity to 15million passengers per annum. It was initially believed that any future development beyond this capacity would require the construction of a second major terminal building.

Foster Associates terminal

Foster Associates, founded by architect Norman Foster, was commissioned to design the new terminal building, with structural engineering led by Peter Rice at principal engineers Ove Arup & Partners. The plans were approved in 1985, and construction took place between 1988 and 1991 by the John Laing company at a cost of £100million. The terminal building originally comprised a square structure of 11 bays by 11 bays, and opened to the public in 1991. It received the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture (Mies van der Rohe Award) in 1990. As part of the development, a railway branch was built to the airport for Stansted Airport railway station, built at ground level within the terminal.

The building was recognised as a landmark work of high-tech architecture. Foster + Partners' design for Stansted Airport is widely regarded as a transformative influence on airport architecture. The building features open canopies that visually connect the landside and airside, and challenged conventional airport layouts by relocating essential services underground, instead creating an open and flexible main concourse that is naturally illuminated. The "floating" roof, supported by a space frame of inverted-pyramid roof trusses, creates the impression of a stylised swan in flight. The base of each truss structure is a "utility pillar", which provides indirect uplighting illumination and is the location for air-conditioning, water, telecommunications, and electrical outlets. The layout of the airport was originally designed to provide an unobstructed flow for passengers to arrive at the short-stay car park, move through the check-in hall, and go through security and on to the departure gates, all on the same level. These principles influenced the design of future projects around the world.

In 1999, planning permission was granted for Phase 2 of the terminal expansion, which included extending the width to 15 bays, as well as the addition of the third satellite building.

Further developments

A major expansion programme to the terminal took place between 2007 and 2009, extending the width by 2 bays, with nearly 5900 m2 of floorspace, to give space for additional baggage carousels, a new immigration and passport control hall.

In November 2006, Uttlesford District Council rejected a BAA planning application to increase the permitted number of aircraft movements and to remove the limit on passenger numbers. BAA immediately appealed against the decision and a public inquiry opened, lasting from May until October 2007. Planning Inspector Alan Boyland made his recommendations in January 2008. Those recommendations were largely followed by the Secretary of State for Transport (Geoff Hoon) and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Hazel Blears), who jointly allowed the applicant's appeal in October 2008. A legal challenge by community campaign group Stop Stansted Expansion was rejected by the High Court in March 2009.

The Competition Commission ruled in March 2009 that BAA should sell Gatwick and Stansted Airports within two years. The ruling was quashed within a year following an appeal, but was subsequently upheld. The Competition Commission reconfirmed its ruling in July 2011 that the airport be sold, and the Court of Appeal turned down an appeal by BAA on 26 July 2012. In light of the result, BAA chose not to appeal to the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom and confirmed on 20 August 2012 that the airport would be sold.

Under MAG ownership (2013–)

In January 2013 it was announced that MAG (Manchester Airports Group) had agreed to purchase London Stansted Airport for £1.5billion. The sale was completed on 28 February 2013.

MAG announced on 20 June 2013 as part of a visit to the airport by the Secretary of State for Transport that it would be launching an £80million terminal redevelopment programme. MAG has invested £40million and the remainder was invested by other commercial partners. The redevelopment included relocation of the security area, doubling the amount of seating, and improving the information displays. The new Departure Lounge offers a food court, new shops, and an Escape Lounge.

In 2017, Antonov Airlines opened a UK office at Stansted for cargo charter flights, generally of outsize loads.

COVID-19 pandemic and recovery

The COVID-19 pandemic had a severe impact on London Stansted Airport, leading to a significant reduction in passenger numbers and operational challenges. In 2020, the airport served just over 7.5million passengers, a large decline from its pre-pandemic levels of around 28million annually. At the height of the crisis, Stansted experienced a 95% drop in passenger footfall compared to 2019. Cargo operations, however, saw a 53% increase as the airport adapted to new demands. Airport authorities described the situation as an unprecedented crisis, likening the passenger levels to those seen in the early 1990s.

As travel restrictions began to ease in July 2021, London Stansted Airport experienced widespread disruption as passenger numbers surged during the summer holidays. The airport faced staff shortages and increased COVID-19 documentation requirements, leading to long queues and chaotic scenes, with insufficient personnel available to manage the crowds effectively. The airport showed signs of recovery by late 2022, with passenger levels nearing 97% of pre-pandemic volumes.

In the wake of this recovery, in 2023 Stansted Airport announced a £1.1billion expansion plan including a £600million extension of the terminal and facilities, to increase its capacity to serve up to 43million passengers per year. This expansion is expected to add 200 flights per day to the airport's schedule and create over 5,000 jobs over the next five years.

Infrastructure

Terminal and satellite buildings

The terminal is separated into three general areas: Check-in and main concourse along the front, departures towards the southern end, and international arrivals to the northern end of the building. There is a separate baggage reclaim for Domestic arrivals. No gates are in the main terminal building; instead, they are located in three separate oblong satellite buildings, one connected to the main terminal by air bridges, one by the Stansted Airport Transit System people mover, and one by both. Four further bussing gates are accessed from below the main terminal building. The airport has 52 gates with 12 serviceable jetbridges. Long-term plans for Satellite 4, approved in 1999 and revised in 2005, have not been realised, but its site was developed as remote stands in 2018.

As of 2013, Satellite 1 (Gates 1-19) had been redeveloped with the aim to attract more long-haul airlines to Stansted. Furthermore, a dual jetbridge has been added at Stand 13 (Boarding Gate 12), allowing faster boarding and deboarding of wide-body aircraft. An additional building, known as the Advanced Passenger Vehicle (APV), was brought back into use in 2016 for flights departing during the busy 06:00 to 09:00 period. The APV building is linked to the main terminal building by an accessible route and acts as a bus terminal for international flights at remote stands. Prior to the completion of Satellite 3, this terminal (then consisted of gates 90–95) was in regular passenger use.

Domestic arrivals (from the UK) use a separate exit route, located at the opposite end of the Terminal to the International arrivals hall. This exit is connected solely by footbridge from Satellite 2 gates 8188. When a domestic flight arrives at a gate which is not located in Satellite 2, passengers are transported to a gate on Satellite 2 by a courtesy bus service from the aircraft.

Common Travel Area arrivals are coached from stand, and taken to a separate entrance located at the North East of the terminal which leads to the main terminal baggage reclaim belts, bypassing Border Force, but without bypassing Customs.

Car parks

Stansted has a variety of car parking including long-, mid-, and short-stay options along with valet and meet-and-greet parking services. Two drop off areas also are available. The express area is located near the short-stay car park, while a free service is within the mid-stay area. A fee is charged for the express service. Terminal Road North and its free drop-off area directly outside the terminal was closed shortly after MAG took over the airport in 2013.

Control tower

Stansted's air traffic control tower was completed in 1996 and was the tallest in Britain at the time of its construction. It is located on the southside of the airfield alongside the main terminal building. It replaced the old control tower, which offered poor views of the airfield once the current terminal building was opened in 1991.

Cargo handling

There are several cargo buildings and hangars around the airfield. The main cargo centre is located by the control tower and handles most cargo operations, including aircraft such as the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 and the Boeing 747. There are a small number of hangars on the other side of the runway to the rest of the airport. The largest are located at the south east of the airfield, one of which is used by Ryanair.

Other facilities

Titan Airways has its head office in the Enterprise House on the airport property. Several airlines at one time had their head offices on the airport property. AirUK (later KLM uk) had its head office in the Stansted House. When Buzz existed, its head office was in the Endeavour House. When AB Airlines existed, its head office was in the Enterprise House. For a period Lloyd International Airways had its head office at the Lloyd House at Stansted. When Go Fly existed its head office was at the Enterprise House.

Since 2004, Stansted also offers a range of hotel accommodation including Holiday Inn Express, Novotel, Premier Inn, and Radisson Blu hotels and the recently opened Hampton by Hilton, the last two of which are both within two minutes of the terminal building via an undercover walkway. Regular bus service handles transfers between the terminal building and Stansted's car parks and hotels.

Proposed developments

Runway

Plans for a second runway

On 11 March 2008, BAA submitted a planning application (titled "G2") to expand the airport by 3 sqmi and for the construction of a second runway and terminal, etc., in line with a recommendation in the 2003 Air Transport White Paper (ATWP). This would have been the subject of a public inquiry, and if approved, would have allowed Stansted to handle more passengers than Heathrow did at the time of the application.

In May 2010, BAA withdrew its plans to build a second runway at Stansted and withdrew the plans to build a new runway at Heathrow.

The ATWP had anticipated that a second runway would be operational by 2011, but this date continued to slip. BAA's 2008 planning application envisaged operation commencing in 2015, and in 2009, BAA revised the anticipated opening date to 2017.

Prior to the United Kingdom's May 2010 general election, all three major political parties pledged not to approve a second runway. Soon after the election, the new government confirmed this, and BAA withdrew its application for planning permission, having spent nearly £200million preparing for the public inquiry and buying up properties.

The public inquiry into BAA's second runway application had been scheduled to start on 15 April 2009, but the start was delayed by Secretary of State Hazel Blears to allow time for BAA and the government to consider the implications of the March 2009 Competition Commission's ruling that BAA must sell Stansted within two years. As 2011 drew to a close, BAA was still appealing against the Competition Commission ruling. On 20 August 2012, after losing a case at the Court of Appeal, BAA agreed to cease challenging the Competition Commission's ruling and to sell Stansted.

On 10 February 2010, Secretary of State John Denham, in an open letter, concluded that the inquiry could not reasonably start until after the general election. In addition, he commented that the planning application documents were nearly two years old and would require updating. Eventually, BAA realised the futility of pursuing its G2 application in the context of the new government policy and withdrew it on 24 May 2010.

Stop Stansted Expansion

The advocacy group Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE) was formed in 2002, as a working group of the North West Essex and East Herts Preservation Association, in response to the Government's consultation on expanding UK airports and, particularly, runway expansion plans for Stansted Airport subsequently defined in the Air Transport white paper in December 2003. In September 2012, as a result of pressure from the aviation industry, the government set up the Airports Commission, chaired by Sir Howard Davies, to consider what, if anything, needed to be done to maintain the UK's status as a global aviation hub. The commission concluded that an additional runway would be required for South East England and that it should be added to either Heathrow or Gatwick. Following the 2015 election, the commission made a final recommendation to expand Heathrow subject to certain environmental constraints.

Terminal

Ongoing Terminal extension

In July 2023, MAG announced a new proposal for a reconfiguration and three-bay extension to the existing terminal building, which will increase its size by a third. This plan aims to create increased passenger amenities, with an expected cost of £600million. The extension plan will increase the terminal's size by 16,500 square metres, and is designed to accommodate an increase in passenger capacity from 35million to 43million annual passengers. On 1 November 2023, the government's Planning Inspectorate approved the expansion plan. The new terminal design will incorporate a larger departure lounge, an enlarged security hall, and new amenities, including additional shops, bars, and restaurants. The baggage reclaim area will also feature new carousels and increased baggage handling capacity. The redevelopment will include the installation new check-in desks, and next-generation security scanners. Satellite 2 (gates 20-39) is also currently undergoing an upgrade and modernisation programme, with new flooring, lighting, and gate area seating. The existing gate areas are also being reconfigured to model conventional gate-rooms as seen in other airports, with the aim to create more space for passengers when pre-boarding their aircraft

As part of the redevelopment project, the existing passenger transit system will be decommissioned and replaced with new walkways that will connect the terminal to the satellite buildings. Additionally, the immigration hall will be relocated to a new area downstairs within the terminal. Also included in the programme is the installation of a 14.3-megawatt on-site solar farm.

Construction of the extension is planned to begin in 2025 and is expected to last two to three years.

Proposed Satellite 4

Plans for Satellite 4 have never been realised. Located to the northeast of Satellite 3, Satellite 4 was approved for planning permission in 1999 as part of an expansion strategy to increase the airport's capacity from 8 to 15million passengers per annum. A revised scheme in 2005 included a pier link for the proposed satellite, with construction planned for 2013-2015, however plans did not proceed after the sale of BAA to Ferrovial, and construction never commenced. In 2018, the site of Satellite 4 was instead built as remote stands. The current expansion plans for 2024 do not include Satellite 4, and instead focuses on other airfield and terminal improvements.

Formerly proposed Arrivals Terminal

In December 2016, London Stansted Airport unveiled plans for a new £130million arrivals terminal aimed to handle increasing passenger numbers and relieve pressure on the existing single-terminal setup, which is the busiest of its kind in the UK.

The new arrivals terminal was to be located adjacent to the existing terminal and Radisson Blu Hotel. It would feature a larger immigration and baggage reclaim area. This new facility would allow the existing terminal to be reconfigured exclusively for departures, expanding space for check-in, security, and the international departures lounge, and would make London Stansted the only airport in the UK with separate arrivals and departures terminals.

Initial construction was due to start in 2018, taking three years to complete. However, the arrivals terminal was put on hold at the end of 2019, due to fluctuating travel demand and economic uncertainties. In 2020, Uttlesford District Council refused planning permission for the expansion plan, but the Planning Inspectorate overturned this decision following a public inquiry in 2021. Despite the approval, further delays and changes to the airport's priorities led to the arrivals terminal being deferred.

In 2023, following a review of various proposals for increasing terminal capacity, Stansted Airport decided to cancel the arrivals terminal project, opting instead to focus on expanding the existing 1991 terminal building.

Formerly proposed artwork

As part of the terminal's initial development, in 1988 Norman Foster and British architectural artist Brian Clarke made several proposals for an integral artwork for the terminal building. The principal proposal would have seen the east and west elevations of the terminal clad in two sequences of traditionally mouth-blown, leaded stained glass, along the full 162 metre length of the building. However, for technical and security reasons, the artwork was not executed. In 1991, the British Airports Authority commissioned a second, smaller stained glass project from Clarke for Stansted Airport in place of the 1988 proposal. The artist designed two stained glass friezes and a 6 m high tower of stained glass for a circulation area in the centre of the terminal which, in their composition, echoed elements of Foster's structure; by 1994 the tower had been removed to 'allow greater flow of traffic through the space', and later the friezes were likewise removed.

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

The following airlines operate regular scheduled flights to and from Stansted Airport:

| Air Algérie | Algiers | AJet | Ankara, Istanbul–Sabiha Gökçen Seasonal: Bodrum (begins 26 June 2026) | Arkia | Tel Aviv | British Airways | Florence Seasonal: Bergerac, Chambéry, Geneva, Ibiza, Nice, Olbia (begins 23 May 2026) | Corendon Airlines | Seasonal: Antalya | easyJet | Amsterdam, Belfast–International, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Paris–Charles de Gaulle (resumes 5 March 2026) Seasonal: Geneva, Zurich | Emirates | Dubai–International | FlyOne | Chișinău | HiSky | Chișinău, Oradea | Jet2.com | Agadir, Alicante, Antalya, Faro, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Hurghada (begins 12 February 2027), La Palma (begins 26 October 2026), Lanzarote, Málaga, Malta, Marrakesh, Paphos, Rome–Fiumicino, Sharm El Sheikh (begins 11 February 2027), Tenerife–South Seasonal: Almería (begins 1 May 2027), Athens, Bodrum, Chania, Geneva, Girona, Grenoble, Heraklion, Kalamata, Kraków, Larnaca, Pula, Reus, Rhodes, Santorini, Skiathos, Split, Thessaloniki, Tivat, Verona, Vienna, Zakynthos | Lufthansa | Seasonal: Munich | Pegasus Airlines | Adana/Mersin (begins 2 April 2026), Antalya, Istanbul–Sabiha Gökçen, Izmir
Seasonal: Gaziantep | Royal Air Maroc | Seasonal: Casablanca | Royal Jordanian | Amman–Queen Alia | Ryanair | Aarhus, Agadir, Alicante, Ancona, Athens, Barcelona, Bari, Basel/Mulhouse, Belfast–International, Bergamo, Berlin, Biarritz, Bologna, Bratislava, Bremen, Brindisi, Brno, Bucharest–Otopeni, Budapest, Bydgoszcz, Cagliari, Catania, Cluj-Napoca, Cologne/Bonn, Copenhagen, Cork, Dalaman, Dublin, Dubrovnik, Edinburgh, Eindhoven, Essaouira, Faro, Fez, Fuerteventura, Funchal, Gdańsk, Genoa, Girona, Glasgow (resumes 29 March 2026), Gothenburg, Gran Canaria, Hahn, Hamburg, Helsinki, Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden, Katowice, Kaunas, Kerry, Klagenfurt, Knock, Košice, Kraków, Lamezia Terme, Lanzarote, Limoges, Linz, Lisbon, Łódź, Lourdes, Luxembourg, Madrid, Málaga, Malmö (begins 1 April 2026), Malta, Marrakesh, Marseille, Memmingen, Milan–Malpensa, Münster/Osnabrück, Murcia, Nantes, Naples, Newquay, Nuremberg, Olsztyn-Mazury, Oslo, Ostrava, Palanga, Palermo, Palma de Mallorca, Paphos, Perugia, Pescara, Pisa, Plovdiv, Podgorica, Poitiers, Porto, Poznań, Prague, Rabat, Reggio Calabria, Riga, Rome–Ciampino, Rzeszów, Salzburg, Sandefjord, Santander, Santiago de Compostela, Sarajevo, Seville, Shannon, Sofia, Stockholm–Arlanda, Stockholm–Västerås, Szczecin, Tallinn, Tangier, Tenerife–South, Thessaloniki, Tirana, Toulouse, Venice, Verona, Vienna, Vilnius, Warsaw–Modlin, Wrocław, Zagreb, Zaragoza Seasonal: Alghero, Almería, Bergerac, Béziers, Chania, Corfu, Kos, La Rochelle, Menorca, Nice, Nimes, Osijek, Perpignan, Preveza/Lefkada, Pula, Reus, Rijeka, Rimini, Rhodes, Rodez, Rovaniemi, Salerno, Santorini, Tours (resumes 29 March 2026), Zadar, Zakynthos | SunExpress | Adana/Mersin, Antalya, Gaziantep, Izmir Seasonal: Kayseri | Transavia | Rotterdam/The Hague | TUI Airways | Sharm El Sheikh Seasonal: Chambéry, Corfu, Enfidha, Gran Canaria, Heraklion, Innsbruck, Kefalonia, Kos (begins 7 May 2026), Ibiza, Menorca, Palma de Mallorca, Paphos, Rhodes, Salzburg, Tenerife–South, Turin, Verona, Zakynthos | Turkish Airlines | Istanbul (begins 18 March 2026)

Cargo

| Asiana Cargo | Almaty, Frankfurt, Seoul–Incheon | Cargolux | Luxembourg | China Southern Cargo | Guangzhou | Emirates SkyCargo | Brussels, Dubai–Al Maktoum | FedEx Express | Dublin, Frankfurt, Memphis, Paris–Charles de Gaulle | Qatar Airways Cargo | Doha | Turkish Cargo | Istanbul | UPS Airlines | Cologne/Bonn, Hong Kong, Louisville, Philadelphia

Route development

Long-haul scheduled services commenced in 1987 with a short lived service from the Scottish airline Highland Express to Newark Liberty International Airport via Prestwick Airport. In the early 1990s American Airlines operated a transatlantic service between Stansted and Chicago–O'Hare, but the route was unprofitable and was withdrawn in 1993. Continental Airlines also operated a short lived service from 2 May 2001 from Newark Liberty International Airport, but this service was stopped shortly after the September 11 attacks in 2001.

Long-haul services to the United States returned in late 2005, when Eos Airlines and MAXjet Airways commenced all-business class services from Stansted to New York–JFK. In 2006, MAXjet expanded their service with flights to Washington–Dulles, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles. American Airlines began daily flights to Stansted in October 2007 from New York–JFK and was originally expected to operate a second daily flight from April 2008. However, because of the 2000s energy crisis, the 2008 financial crisis, and worsening credit environment at the time, all three services to the United States have since been discontinued following the demise of MAXjet Airways in December 2007 and Eos Airlines in April 2008. Finally, in July 2008, American Airlines withdrew from Stansted, alongside its services to Gatwick, and consolidated all operations at Heathrow.

Long-haul transatlantic operations made a brief return to Stansted in June 2010, when Sun Country Airlines announced a seasonal weekly service from Stansted to Minneapolis/St. Paul. The flights made a refuelling stopover in Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador as the aircraft used for the flight, a Boeing 737-800, would not be able to complete a nonstop westbound flight from Stansted to Minneapolis. The flights operated from 11 June to 15 August 2010. In 2011, Sun Country operated to Gatwick rather than Stansted and then discontinued flights due to the price involved in carrying fuel on long-haul flights. . Long-haul services to Asia commenced in March 2009 with Malaysian low-cost airline AirAsia X providing direct flights to Kuala Lumpur International Airport; however, on 24 October 2011, this service moved to Gatwick Airport before being later withdrawn completely. Low-cost airline Primera Air launched non-stop flights from Stansted to Boston, Newark, Toronto-Pearson and Washington–Dulles, until the collapse of the airline meant the discontinuation of the routes by 2018, leaving Stansted without transatlantic routes once more. In 2018, Emirates began operating daily flights to its hub at Dubai-International using its Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. The route has since increased to a twice daily service.

The COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted the aviation industry, with Stansted Airport not being immune from the fallout. Ural Airlines (to Moscow–Domodedovo), Scandinavian Airlines (to Copenhagen), Air India (to Amritsar and Mumbai), Air Senegal (to Dakar–Diass) and El Al (to Tel Aviv), were either scheduled to begin in 2020, or had recently begun operation but have since not returned. Additionally, easyJet, one of the largest operators at the airport at the time, announced the closure of their base at Stansted, which had more than two dozen routes and existed for more than a decade, in August 2020.

Statistics

Development

In 1988, over 1.1million passengers passed through Stansted, the first time annual passenger numbers had exceeded 1million at the airport. Consistent year-on-year growth followed, and by 1997, the total had reached over 5million, rapidly rising to almost 12million in 2000.

In 2007, passenger numbers peaked at nearly 24million, but then declined for five years, and in 2012, the total was around 17.5million. An increase of 2.2% was recorded in 2013 to 17.8million passengers, then 11.7% in 2014 to 19.9million, followed by 12.8% in 2015 to 22.5million, and 8.0% in 2016 to a record total of 24.3million, making Stansted the fourth-busiest airport in the United Kingdom. Stansted also is a major freight airport, the third-busiest in the UK during 2016, behind London Heathrow and East Midlands Airport, handling in excess of 223,203tonnes per annum, although freight throughput has declined slightly from its 2005 peak level.

Passenger numbers for the year ending September 2016 increased by 8.4% to over 24million for the first time since 2007. Passenger numbers for 2023 was 28million.

Traffic figures

Busiest routes

Ground transport

Airside Transit system

Main article: Stansted Airport Transit System

The Stansted Airport Transit System connects the terminal to the satellite buildings via a 2 mi free automated people mover service, which runs on dual concrete tracks. The system uses a mix of Adtranz C-100 and CX-100 vehicles to carry passengers to departure gates. Unlike the similar Gatwick Airport Shuttle Transit, the Stansted transit is only accessible "airside" (i.e. only after passengers pass through security). As part of the airport expansion plans, it is planned to decommission the Transit System in spring 2026 to make way for an expanded terminal. The transit will be replaced with pedestrian bridges.

Trains

Main article: Stansted Airport railway station

Stansted Airport railway station is situated in the terminal building directly below the main concourse.

Services to London are on the Stansted Express train to and from Liverpool Street in Central London. This service operates every 15minutes and the usual journey time is between 45 and 53minutes. Liverpool Street is served by London Underground and the Elizabeth line, offering access throughout London. The Stansted Express also calls at Tottenham Hale, for the Underground's Victoria line and connections to various destinations in North London and the West End. Some Stansted Express services also call at Stansted Mountfitchet, Bishop's Stortford and/or Harlow Town en route to London Liverpool Street.

CrossCountry operates an hourly service from the airport to Birmingham New Street, via Cambridge, Peterborough and Leicester. Greater Anglia operates services to Norwich via Cambridge.

Buses and coaches

Scheduled express bus or coach services which run to and from London are provided by National Express and Flibco.{{cite web | url=https://www.stanstedairport.com/getting-to-and-from/by-bus-and-coach/ | title= Travel by bus or coach }} The bus station is next to the terminal building. National Express operates around 200 round trips a day and runs services throughout London on three routes:

• A6 to Paddington Station, typically every 30 minutes (via Golders Green, Finchley Road, St. John's Wood and Baker Street)
• A8 to Victoria Coach Station, typically every 30 minutes (via Tottenham Hale, Stamford Hill, Dalston, Shoreditch, Liverpool Street, Southwark and Waterloo)
• A9 non-stop to Stratford station, typically every 20 minutes. Alternate services then continue onto either Bethnal Green (via Bow, Mile End, Whitechapel and Liverpool Street) or to Canary Wharf.

National Express also runs direct coach services to the airport from Luton Airport and Heathrow, and additionally from Birmingham (11 per day), Oxford (eight per day), Norwich (ten per day), and Cambridge (11 per day).

Stansted is also the start of the Essex Airlink X30 coach service to Southend-on-Sea via Chelmsford and London Southend Airport, the X20 coach service to Colchester via Braintree and the X10 coach service to Basildon via Chelmsford, all operated hourly by First Essex.

Local bus services operate to nearby communities, including the 510/509/508 (Harlow to Stansted via Stansted Mountfitchet, Parsonage Lane and Takeley, respectively), 7/7a (Bishops Stortford to Stansted), 333 (Braintree), and 6 (Saffron Walden), operated by Arriva.

Roads

Stansted is connected to northeast London and Cambridge by the M11 motorway and to Braintree, Colchester, and Harwich by the A120, which is dual-carriageway until Braintree. The road distance to London is 37 mi.

As of October 1996, the airport has 2,500 short-stay parking spaces within walking distance to the terminal. In addition, as of the same month, the airport has over 8,000 long-stay spaces located near the M11 motorway and A120 junction. A courtesy bus service links the long-stay spaces to the terminal. The airport also offers mid-stay parking, closer to the terminal than its long-stay spaces. Stansted Airport also offers valet parking and a meet-and-greet service, which is similar to valet, but marketed more at the leisure-traveller market; both are run from the short-stay car park.

Incidents and accidents

Stansted has been designated by the UK government as its preferred airport for any hijacked planes requesting to land in the UK. This is because its design allows a hijacked airliner to be isolated well away from any terminal buildings or runways, allowing the airport to continue to operate while negotiations are carried out, or even while an assault or rescue mission is undertaken. For this reason, Stansted has been involved in more hijack incidents than might be expected for an airport of its size.

• On 30 April 1956, a Scottish Airlines Avro 685 York C.1 suffered a runway excursion during a rejected takeoff, winding up in a drain on the side of the runway, collapsing the undercarriage. Two passengers died out of 54 on board.
• On 23 December 1957, a Scottish Airlines Avro 685 York C.1, a cargo flight, crashed on its third approach to Stansted striking a tree three quarters of a mile short of the runway, crashing in flames. All four occupants died.
• On 27 February 1982, an Air Tanzania Boeing 737-2R8C landed at the airport after having been hijacked on an internal flight from Mwanza to Dar es Salaam and flown to the UK via Nairobi, Jeddah, and Athens, where two passengers had been released. The hijackers demanded to speak to exiled Tanzanian opposition politician Oscar Kambona. This request was granted, and after 26 hours on the ground, the hijackers surrendered and the passengers were released.
• On 30 March 1998, an Emerald Airways Hawker Siddeley HS 748 carrying the Leeds United F.C. was brought down immediately after takeoff when its starboard engine exploded. 40 passengers were onboard (18 from the Leeds team). Only two passengers were injured.
• On 22 December 1999, Korean Air Cargo Flight 8509, a Boeing 747-200F, crashed shortly after take-off from the airfield due to pilot error. The only people on board at the time were the aircrew, and all four were killed. The aircraft crashed in Hatfield Forest near the village of Great Hallingbury.
• On 6 February 2000, an Ariana Afghan Airlines Boeing 727 with 156 people on board was hijacked and flown – stopping at Tashkent, Kazakhstan, and Moscow – to Stansted Airport. After a four-day stand-off, the hostages on board were safely freed and the incident ended peacefully. The motive behind the hijack was to gain asylum in the UK, sparking another debate about immigration into the country. A large number of passengers on board the plane also applied for asylum. The remainder returned to Afghanistan. Nine hijackers were jailed, but their convictions for hijacking were quashed for misdirection of the jury in 2003, and in July 2004, a court ruled that they could not be deported from the UK.
• On 24 May 2013, Pakistan International Airlines Flight 709 from Lahore, Pakistan, was escorted by RAF Typhoons after being diverted from Manchester Airport due to an onboard threat. Two men were charged with endangering an aircraft.
• On 21 September 2013, SriLankan Airlines Flight UL503 inbound to Heathrow was escorted by RAF Typhoons to Stansted Airport after being diverted. Two men were detained for endangering an aircraft, and one was formally arrested.

Protest incidents

• In 2008, 57 people were arrested after Plane Stupid, an environmental activist group, broke through the barriers and created a "stockade" on a taxiway, which resulted in 52 flights being cancelled.
• In March 2018, a group of activists delayed a deportation flight to Nigeria. Fifteen of the protestors were found guilty of "intentional disruption of services at an aerodrome", under the Aviation and Maritime Security Act 1990. This verdict on the Stansted 15 was described in New Statesman as having a chilling effect on public dissent.

References

Citations

Bibliography

• Freeman, Roger A. (1994) UK Airfields of the Ninth: Then and Now. After the Battle
• Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. .#
• USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers—1908 to present
• The Bishop's Stortford Herald newspaper, 26 April 2007.

References

1. "Stansted – EGSS". Nats-uk.ead-it.com.
2. (31 March 2024). "Aircraft and passenger traffic data from UK airports". [[Civil Aviation Authority (United Kingdom).
3. CAA document for 2022: [https://www.caa.co.uk/Documents/Download/9077/31632962-d7b6-4df4-a5fd-6df78e65d88c/5578 "Size of Reporting Airports January 2022 - December 2022"] All years: [https://www.caa.co.uk/data-and-analysis/uk-aviation-market/airports/uk-airport-data/ "UK airport data"]
4. "Annual airport data 2021 {{!}} Civil Aviation Authority".
5. (19 January 2013). "Stansted Airport being sold to Manchester for £1.5bn". BBC News.
6. Sinead Holland. (28 February 2013). "£1.5{{nbsp}}billion Stansted Airport sale complete". Harlow Star.
7. The Trials & Triumphs of a Regimental Commander During World War II By Colonel Thomas A. Glass p. 130
8. Wright ''Aircraft Illustrated'' February 1978, p. 70.
9. Wright ''Aircraft Illustrated'' February 1978, pp. 70–71.
10. Roskill (1971). Report, Commission on the Third London Airport. London: HMSO.
11. Le Blond, Paul. (2018). "Inside London's Airports Policy: Indecision, decision and counter-decision". ICE Publishing.
12. "Airports Policy (Hansard, 17 June 1985)".
13. (November 2010). "Making a material difference London Stansted Airport Waste Management Strategy 2010-2015".
14. McCarthy, Lucie. (September 2023). "HERITAGE STATEMENT Stansted Airport Terminal Extension".
15. "Architecture: Genius expressed in nuts and bolts: Peter Rice is an". The Independent.
16. Ritchie, p. 173
17. ''Above Us The Skies: The Story Of BAA''{{nbsp– 1991 (Michael Donne{{nbsp– BAA plc), p. 62-63
18. (2005). "Transport Terminals and Modal Interchanges". Architectural Press.
19. (25 November 2019). "Stansted Airport "challenged the rules of terminal design"".
20. dwtransportwriting. (2 December 2015). "The Upside Down Airport (London Stansted Airport, UK)".
21. Percival, Jenny. (13 March 2009). "Stop Stansted Expansion group loses legal battle".
22. (19 March 2009). "BAA could challenge airport sale". BBC News.
23. (13 October 2010). "BAA sell-off back on track after court ruling". BBC News.
24. (19 July 2011). "BAA loses final Competition Commission sell-off ruling". BBC News.
25. (26 July 2012). "BAA loses latest appeal against Stansted sale". BBC News.
26. (20 August 2012). "Stansted Airport to be sold by BAA". BBC News.
27. (18 January 2013). "Stansted Airport being sold to Manchester for £1.5bn". BBC News.
28. Sinead Holland. (28 February 2013). "£1.5 billion Stansted Airport sale complete". Harlow Star.
29. (20 February 2017). "UK office handles Antonov Airlines charter". aircargonews.
30. (15 March 2021). "Stansted Airport anniversary overshadowed by 'crisis like no other'".
31. (21 April 2021). "Coronavirus one year on: Stansted suffers 95 drop in passengers".
32. "COVID-19: 'Total chaos' at UK airports on busiest weekend this year - with COVID checks and lack of staff blamed".
33. (19 December 2022). "New Ryanair routes drive record recovery at Stansted Airport".
34. "London Stansted Airport Eyeing 2025 Start On Terminal Extension Construction {{!}} Aviation Week Network".
35. Henderson, Alice. (15 October 2024). "Stansted airport outlines £1.1 billion investment plan over five years".
36. Taylor, Guy. (14 October 2024). "Stansted Airport to add 5,000 jobs as part of £1.1bn expansion plan".
37. (2015). "SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2015".
38. (16 October 2018). "New aircraft stands at London Stansted Airport".
39. (20 June 2013). "Transport Secretary Launches £80 Million Terminal Redevelopment". London Stansted Airport.
40. "Airport Management Report".
41. "Pick Up and Drop Off".
42. "Stansted Airport Control Tower{{nbsp}}– MDA Consulting".
43. "[http://www.titan-airways.com/contact-us.html Contact Us] {{Webarchive. link. (19 January 2012." Titan Airways. Retrieved 16 December 2011. "Titan Airways Ltd Enterprise House Stansted Airport Essex CM24 1RN")
44. "[https://web.archive.org/web/19961029012516/http://www.airuk.co.uk/ Home-page]."{{sic [[AirUK]]. Retrieved 28 February 2010.
45. link. (24 October 2012.)
46. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20010702090939/http://www.buzzaway.com/about_us/contact_us.html Contact Us]." [[Buzz (airline). Buzz]]. Retrieved 2 September 2009.
47. "[https://web.archive.org/web/19980130211559/http://www.abairlines.com/company.htm An Introduction to AB Airlines]." AB Airlines. 30 January 1998. Retrieved 7 February 2011. "AB Airlines{{nbsp– Internet Enquiry Office Enterprise House, Stansted Airport Essex. CM24 1RW"
48. link. (4 November 2012. "Head Office: Lloyd House, First Avenue, Stansted Airport, Essex.")
49. link. (5 June 2013. "Enterprise House, 2nd Floor, Stansted Airport, Stansted, Essex, CM241SB, UK")
50. (12 March 2008). "£2.5bn Stansted Generation 2 planning bid submitted". Transport Briefing.
51. BBC News: [https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8701433.stm Heathrow and Stansted runway plans scrapped by BAA] , 24 May 2010. Visited 20 June 2011.
52. [http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100519093443/http://www.dft.gov.uk/about/strategy/whitepapers/air/ (ARCHIVED CONTENT) The Future of Air Transport – White Paper and the Civil Aviation Bill]. Webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
53. [https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/airports-commission Airports Commission] {{Webarchive. link. (20 July 2013. GOV.UK. Retrieved 16 August 2013.)
54. (14 October 2024). "Billions for Stansted Airport and London Gateway announced".
55. (1 November 2023). "Stansted Airport expansion plans for bigger terminal approved".
56. "Terminal Extension".
57. "Plan in for Stansted airport terminal extension". Construction Enquirer.
58. "London Stansted unveils £1.1bn investment programme as it embarks on "exciting new chapter"".
59. (1 February 2018). "STANSTED AIRPORT 25-35MPPA EXPANSION (GENERATION 1)".
60. (July 2008). "BAA FUNDING LIMITED Prospectus".
61. Whitelaw, Jackie. (8 June 2006). "Stansted expansion on shaky ground as Ferrovial buys BAA".
62. (19 December 2016). "London Stansted Airport unveils plans for new £130 million arrivals building to transform the passenger experience".
63. Morris, Hugh. (16 December 2016). "UK's busiest single-terminal airport set for £130m revamp". The Telegraph.
64. (5 April 2017). "Stansted Airport announces new £130m arrivals terminal". BBC English Regions.
65. "Stansted Airport presses pause on £130m arrivals building - The Transport Network".
66. "Stansted Airport: Council criticised for rejecting expansion plan". BBC English Regions.
67. "£5,000,000,000 Multicurrency programme for the issuance of Bonds".
68. Powell, Kenneth. (1994). "Brian Clarke: Architectural Artist". Academy Group Ltd.
69. Powell, Kenneth. (1992). "Stansted: Norman Foster and the Architecture of Flight". Fourth Estate/The University of Michigan.
70. Glancey, Jonathan. (2000). "On Foster... Foster On". Prestel.
71. [https://www.stanstedairport.com/flight-information/ stanstedairport.com – Flight Information] {{Webarchive. link. (1 April 2020 retrieved 27 August 2020.)
72. (8 January 2025). "Air Algérie Expands Services to the UK with New Algiers-London Stansted Route".
73. (23 October 2025). "Air Service One - Bitesize Analysis of the Day - 23rd October 2025 - Ankara Esenboga Airport". Air Service One.
74. (18 March 2024). "Turkish Airlines' Ajet to begin operations this month".
75. (2025-10-31). "Londra-Stansted, Bodrum uçuşları bu yaz başlıyor".
76. (10 July 2025). "Arkia Boosts UK–Israel Connectivity With New Tel Aviv–London Stansted Flights As Wizz Air Rejoins The Market From Luton - Travel And Tour World".
77. "British Airways launches flights from Stansted to Chambery".
78. (21 January 2026). "Major Essex airport offering 'travellers plenty of choice' for top sk destinations". Halstead Gazette.
79. (12 December 2023). "British Airways Returns To London Stansted Airport".
80. (21 May 2024). "British Airways restarts flights from Stansted".
81. (21 November 2025). "Budget airline at Stansted Airport reveal 'unbelievable' Black Friday deal". Clacton and Frinton Gazette.
82. (14 May 2025). "easyJet staff incorrectly reject woman's passport - same mistake made again". Birmingham Live.
83. (9 May 2023). "EasyJet flight diverts after pilot declares emergency".
84. (4 October 2025). "EasyJet plane struggles to land at Edinburgh airport amid Storm Amy". Daily Record.
85. (29 December 2025). "All the new routes from Glasgow Airport in 2026 from New York and Toronto to European beaches". Glasgow Live.
86. (2025-11-20). "CAPA".
87. (29 February 2024). "EasyJet étend son offre vers Londres et le Maroc".
88. (10 March 2025). "Emirates to deploy retrofitted B777s to Seoul and Stansted - AeroTime". Aerotime Aero.
89. (24 July 2019). "LCC FlyOne launches flights from Chișinău to London’s Southend airport".
90. (25 February 2020). "Moldovan airline HiSky to launch in April". Aviation Week.
91. (14 June 2024). "HiSky to launch flights from Romania’s Oradea to Bucharest, London". See News.
92. "Jet2 introduces Morocco flights and holidays".
93. (17 December 2025). "Jet2 737-800 Declares Emergency, Diverts to Faro with Engine Problem". Aviation Source News.
94. Boneham, Isabella. (2025-12-03). "Airline launches new flights to popular destinations from UK airports".
95. "Jet2 adds La Palma to 2026 programme".
96. (2 November 2025). "Listed: All winter destinations Jet2 is travelling to from Stanstead airport". Halstead Gazette.
97. "Stansted Airport: extra flights to seven sunny destinations planned for winter 2025".
98. (3 December 2025). "Essex airport to get its first ever route to country with 'year-round sunshine'". Gazette.
99. (26 December 2025). "Emergency on Jet2 flight full of Brit tourists as plane given 'priority landing'". The Mirror.
100. "Jet2 puts more flights on sale to sunny hotspots - including six brand new routes".
101. "Jet2 adds five new routes to summer 2023 programme".
102. (29 October 2025). "Four ski destinations you can fly to from Stansted for this winter". Gazette.
103. (4 December 2025). "Jet2 launches Stansted Airport flights to popular holiday destination". Essex Live.
104. (28 August 2024). "Stansted Airport Jet2 new Christmas market destination".
105. "Jet2holidays puts four new destinations across Greece, Portugal and Croatia on sale".
106. (6 August 2025). "London Stansted announce flights to Munich for Oktoberfest".
107. (26 October 2023). "Turkish carrier SunExpress starts flying from Stansted". Travel Weekly.
108. (2 July 2019). "Pegasus Airlines launches daily flights from Manchester to Istanbul".
109. (24 February 2025). "Royal Air Maroc to launch London Stansted-Casablanca flights".
110. "Royal Jordanian confirms Manchester and Stansted routes".
111. (1 October 2025). "Ryanair Doubles Flights from Aarhus Airport in 2026".
112. (31 August 2022). "Ryanair flight to Spain emergency lands at Stansted after passenger becomes ill". My London.
113. (14 March 2025). "'We were blocked at Stansted from going on our £1k getaway due to Brexit rule'". My London.
114. (21 March 2014). "Ryanair adds eight new Stansted routes".
115. (2 July 2025). "Family refused boarding by Ryanair say they felt like ‘second class citizens’". My London.
116. (9 June 2022). "More flights cancelled at Stansted Airport following strikes in Italy". Herts Live.
117. (4 February 2025). "Ryanair is launching seven new affordable routes from London airports for summer 2025".
118. (28 September 2023). "Ryanair adds seven routes to London network". Travel Weekly.
119. (1 September 2016). "Sun-Air launches UK routes to Bremen". Business Traveller.
120. (9 August 2025). "Ryanair flight FR2484 declared an emergency over The English Channel, on approach to Stansted". AIRLIVE.
121. (12 January 2017). "Ryanair adds nine new destinations to summer schedule at Stansted Airport". East Anglian Daily Times.
122. (3 October 2025). "Storm Amy: Faro-Cork flight diverts to London after attempts at Shannon & Dublin". Cork Beo.
123. (25 March 2025). "Every new Ryanair route coming to UK airports this summer". Daily Mirror.
124. (28 November 2023). "EKSKLUZIVNO! Ryanair će Dubrovnik povezati sa 17 odredišta, prema Dublinu, Beču i Londonu će letjeti i zimi".
125. "Ryanair expands Stansted schedule with Edinburgh route".
126. (19 November 2025). "Ryanair flights to European airport banned in ruling airline call ‘out of whack’". Metro.
127. (25 June 2024). "RYANAIR ADDS EXTRA DUBLIN FLIGHTS TO/FROM LONDON, FARO AND MALAGA NEXT WEEKEND". Breaking Travel News.
128. (26 March 2019). "Ryanair passengers cheer as drunk woman removed from flight". The Independent.
129. Mayling, Samantha. (23 November 2021). "Ryanair unveils 24 new routes for summer 2022". Travel Weekly.
130. (28 November 2025). "Underrated European city with £15 flights and 5* hotels for £65 a night". Daily Mirror.
131. (15 March 2025). "Summer 2025, Ryanair will fly 11 routes from Genoa: all the details". The Flight Club.
132. Williams, Craig. (2025-12-11). "Ryanair announces record summer schedule for Glasgow Airport and two new routes".
133. (3 July 2015). "Ryanair to open 74th base in Gothenburg {". Aviation Week.
134. Mark Caswell. (10 January 2022). "Ryanair to close Frankfurt airport base – Business Traveller". Businesstraveller.com.
135. (8 June 2017). "Ryanair seeks to gain from easyJet shutting German base". TravelMole.
136. (12 November 2025). "Ryanair digital boarding passes: The verdict from passengers – and the airline". The Independent.
137. (23 July 2011). "Ryanair News Update". ch-aviation.
138. (18 January 2026). "2025 a Record-Breaking Year for Kerry Airport as Search for New CEO Begins".
139. (10 September 2024). "Stansted confirms new British Airways and Ryanair routes". Aerotime Aero.
140. (16 March 2005). "Grieving family left without body after mix-up at airport". Irish Independent.
141. (16 August 2021). "Two new destinations will be added to the Košice airport offer".
142. (13 July 2020). "Ryanair plane from Krakow in Stansted emergency landing escorted by fighter jets". The Mirror.
143. (18 February 2025). "All the Ryanair routes being axed from London airports before the summer". Time Out London.
144. red, ooe ORF at. (22 May 2024). "Ryanair fliegt ab Herbst wieder Linz-London".
145. (24 June 2024). "Ryanair adds flights to cope with demand from Aer Lingus cancellations - Business Plus".
146. (9 July 2023). "Chaotic moment Ryanair passengers brawl on flight during 'row over window seat'". Daily Mirror.
147. (9 June 2022). "More flights cancelled at Stansted Airport following strikes in Italy". Herts Live.
148. "Stansted route network rises to almost 200 for summer".
149. (27 August 2025). "Ryanair adds new routes from London airports - The Business Travel Magazine".
150. (4 July 2025). "Some Essex flights cancelled after air traffic control strikes". Essex Live.
151. (10 February 2016). "Ryanair to open Nuremberg base in mid-4Q".
152. (1 June 2016). "Ryanair to fly from Oslo’s international hub as it closes Rygge base {{!}} Aviation Week Network". Aviation Week.
153. (20 August 2022). "Full list of Ryanair winter destinations from Stansted (and new routes)". Gazette.
154. (24 June 2025). "Ryanair to add more flights to Palanga-London route {{!}} Baltic News".
155. (11 May 2025). "Stansted airport IT failure: your rights if you were caught up in the chaos". The Independent.
156. (2 October 2025). "Ryanair’s Zagreb Take-Off: More Flights, More Brits, More Sun - The Dubrovnik Times".
157. (3 February 2025). "Analyzing a week of operations for four commercial aircraft". Aerotime Aero.
158. (29 October 2025). "Ryanair has launched direct flights from Rzeszów to Edinburgh {{!}} Two Continents".
159. (28 November 2023). "Ryanair unveils Sarajevo routes".
160. (24 October 2013). "Santa Delivers New Ryanair Routes to Shannon". Aviation Week.
161. (13 August 2025). "Fighter Jets Scramble to Intercept London-Bound Ryanair Flight After Mid-Air Security Threat". PYOK.
162. (1 September 2021). "Ryanair reveals 14 new routes from London airports". Aviation Week.
163. (19 March 2025). "Ryanair flight with 178 people on board dropped suddenly without pilots noticing". Metro.
164. (11 February 2025). "Ryanair cuts routes, cancels flights from Tallinn Airport". ERR.
165. (20 February 2025). "Royal Air Maroc adds Stansted as its third London gateway". Aerotime Aero.
166. (8 June 2023). "Ryanair sbarca in Albania. Attacco frontale a Wizz Air".
167. (26 April 2016). "Record advance summer bookings for Ryanair at Stansted Airport". East Anglian Daily Times.
168. (29 October 2020). "Ryanair to suspend service from Irish regional airports {{!}} Aviation Week Network". Aviation Week.
169. (30 March 2021). "12 routes, 2 aircraft and 36 weekly flights: Ryanair to open Zagreb base!". CroatianAviation.
170. (17 January 2025). "Ryanair axes flights to Spanish city".
171. (8 February 2016). "Ryanair closes Alghero and Pescara bases due to local tax hike {{!}} Aviation Week Network". Aviation Week.
172. (17 December 2025). "Ryanair UK routes return to Bergerac for summer 2026".
173. (20 October 2025). "Ryanair summer services between UK and Béziers return".
174. (29 April 2024). "Stansted and Birmingham airport passengers hit by long delays due to technical issues". The Independent.
175. (10 April 2025). "Ryanair launches four new routes from La Rochelle: London and Ireland included".
176. (6 December 2025). "The British can’t get enough of Balearic holiday island, more UK flights than ever in 2026". Majorca Daily Bulletin.
177. (19 November 2025). "Ryanair passenger's anger after £1500 luggage 'ripped to shreds'". My London.
178. (27 February 2014). "Ryanair to add Osijek, Podgorica, Bucharest routes in April {{!}} Southeast Europe Investments News {{!}} SeeNews". See News.
179. (12 April 2022). "All destinations in Greece you can fly to from Stansted Airport in May and June". Cambridgeshire Live.
180. (1 March 2012). "Ryanair Expands Network from London". Aviation Week.
181. (24 December 2018). "Ryanair expands Stansted network". Travel Weekly.
182. Davies, Phil. (31 March 2022). "Ryanair puts Lapland flights on sale". Travel Weekly.
183. (17 June 2024). "Aeroporto Salerno-Costa d'Amalfi, Ryanair opererà tre destinazioni".
184. Davies, Phil. (11 March 2021). "Ryanair raises UK summer capacity to Greece".
185. "Ryanair reopens Tours-London route for summer 2026".
186. (5 July 2023). "Man tackled after trying to open Ryanair plane door: video - AeroTime". Aerotime Aero.
187. (23 March 2021). "Ryanair to fly to new hotspot in spite of 5km COVID rule - Extra.ie".
188. (3 August 2024). "10 Ağustos'ta Adana Şakirpaşa Havalimanı kapatılıyor! Uçuşlar yeni havalimanına aktarılacak".
189. (21 May 2024). "SunExpress Eyes Further UK Expansion {{!}} Aviation Week Network". Aviation Week.
190. (26 October 2023). "Turkish carrier SunExpress starts flying from Stansted". Travel Weekly.
191. (8 January 2025). "Revealed: All the new London Stansted routes launching in 2025". East Anglian Daily Times.
192. (9 October 2024). "Transavia start nieuwe lijndiensten vanaf Rotterdam Airport en concurreert met Eurostar".
193. (22 October 2020). "TUI targets a regional return to Sharm El Sheikh in 2021".
194. (27 June 2019). "TUI add new winter routes from UK airports".
195. Whitehouse, Ellis. (3 April 2024). "TUI launching new flights from Stansted to new destination".
196. "Tui adds 345,000 seats to summer 2025 programme".
197. (16 July 2020). "The 24 places in Spain, Greece and Turkey where TUI will fly to from next week". Herts Live.
198. (24 January 2026). "TUI launches new flights to pretty Greek island from 3 UK airports - full list". OB News.
199. (5 August 2025). "British teenager boards wrong flight at Menorca airport and ends up in Italy". The Guardian.
200. (11 June 2024). "Ryanair, Easyjet, TUI flights to Majorca cancelled - passengers told 'check'". Birmingham Live.
201. (24 September 2025). "Chaos at Stansted as fire delays flights". Mail Online.
202. (23 March 2022). "TUI flight deals for £89 per person from Stansted to Tenerife".
203. [https://www.asianacargo.com/schedule/nodeSchedule.do asianacargo.com – Schedule by Route] {{Webarchive. link. (9 February 2019 retrieved 27 April 2022.)
204. (10 February 2013). "Stansted: Freight carrier Cargolux launches Hong Kong and Luxembourg link". Eadt.co.uk.
205. "Operational Announcements for the Air Cargo industry".
206. (June 2024). "Route Network (June 2024)".
207. "London Stansted Cargo".
208. "Inside FedEx's Stansted Airport sorting hub which can move 65,000 parcels within 24 hours".
209. [http://www.qrcargo.com/docs/07.Summer%2019%20Freighter%20Schedule%20Issue%207%20-%20Effective%201st%20October%202019%20to%2026th%20October%202019.pdf qrcargo.com] {{Webarchive. link. (8 August 2020 retrieved 12 September 2019.)
210. "Turkish Cargo adds London Stansted service from Oct 2018".
211. "UPS Proposed Criteria for Assessing and Accepting the Airspace Change Masterplan".
212. Harrison, Michael. (1 April 1993). "American Airlines to quit Stansted: Long haul carrier scraps Chicago service". The Independent.
213. (27 April 2008). "Why Eos failed – Business Traveller – The leading magazine for frequent flyers".
214. (24 December 2007). "MAXjet goes bankrupt". The Guardian.
215. (28 May 2008). "American Airlines Eliminates JFK-Stansted Service".
216. "Air Asia X launches flights between Stansted and KL – Business Traveller". Business Traveller.
217. "Emirates plans London Stansted launch in June 2018".
218. Spotters, Sebastián Polito-Vuelos y. (13 January 2023). "Emirates increases flights to London Stansted".
219. "SAS adds Copenhagen – London Stansted service from April 2019".
220. "El Al resumes London Stansted service in S20".
221. (17 August 2020). "Advice for easyJet customers". EasyJet.
222. "1983 – 1997 Airport Statistics – Aviation Intelligence". United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority.
223. "London Stansted Airport". Airliner World.
224. (23 January 2024). "Stansted shy of 28 million passengers in 2023".
225. (21 March 2023). "Airport Data 2022". UK Civil Aviation Authority.
226. [http://www.stanstedairport.com/to-and-from-the-airport/ stanstedairport.com – To & From the Airport] {{Webarchive. link. (17 April 2017 retrieved 25 April 2017.)
227. "Stansted, Cambridge and Nottingham to Birmingham and Cardiff timetable, December 2023". CrossCountry Trains.
228. "Coaches to Stansted Airport from £7.50".
229. "Timetable finder. Airport". National Express.
230. (December 2024). "Airport services". First Essex.
231. "Local buses". London Stansted Airport.
232. "Arriva in Herts and Essex". Arriva.
233. Stansted Website on [http://www.stanstedairport.com/portal/page/Stansted%5EGeneral%5ETo+and+from+Stansted%5EStansted+parking+options/511892b57c77d110VgnVCM10000036821c0a____/448c6a4c7f1b0010VgnVCM200000357e120a____/ Stansted Parking Facilities] {{webarchive. link. (19 June 2011, visited 19 June 2011.)
234. "Stansted: New 'Meet and Greet' service to open at Stansted".
235. "Stansted's hijack history". BBC News.
236. (7 February 2017). "Typhoon jets escort Pakistani airliner to Stansted Airport".
237. "G-AMUL".
238. "G-AMUN".
239. (7 February 2000). "Stansted's Hijack History". BBC News.
240. (6 January 2014). "Hijacking Description". Aviation Safety Network.
241. (14 February 2000). "Special report: Hijack at Stansted". BBC News.
242. (13 July 2004). "Afghans win right to stay in UK". BBC News.
243. "Two held after RAF Typhoon jets escort Pakistan plane over UK". BBC News.
244. (22 September 2013). "Two men arrested for 'endangering aircraft' as passenger plane is diverted to Stansted Airport". Herts and Essex Observer (Online).
245. (8 December 2008). "Runway protest strands passengers". BBC News.
246. (28 March 2017). "Stansted Airport runway closed after activists stage protest against Home Office deportation flight". The Independent.
247. (11 December 2018). "The use of anti-terror laws to convict the Stansted 15 will chill public dissent". New Statesman.