London Stansted advances five-year airport transformation programme

London Stansted is progressing a five-year transformation programme designed to enhance the passenger experience, increase capacity and strengthen the airport’s role as a major international gateway for London and the East of England.

The programme was showcased during a visit this week by Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander MP, who toured key areas of the airport’s development, including its recently expanded security hall, new Skylink walkways under construction and on-site solar farm.

The enlarged security hall features 17 latest-generation scanners, allowing passengers to leave liquids and large electrical items in their hand luggage. The Secretary of State also received an update on the Skylink project, which will provide direct connections between the terminal and the airport’s existing satellite buildings.

An airfield tour demonstrated the scale of Stansted’s daily operations. The airport has welcomed a record number of passengers this year and recorded its busiest-ever flying day during the summer, with more than 700 aircraft movements.

The transformation programme is intended to enable Stansted to increase annual passenger capacity to 51 million over the next two decades, making greater use of its existing runway without the need for a new one. The Skylinks are among the first elements to be delivered, with the wider investment programme centred on a three-bay extension to the existing terminal.

The extension will add 16,500m² of terminal space, creating room for new shops, bars and restaurants, alongside a brighter and more spacious passenger environment. Once complete, the development will make Stansted the largest single-terminal airport in Europe.

The new Skylink walkways will connect the terminal directly with the satellite buildings, allowing the airport to retire its track transit people mover system. This will also release space for further terminal expansion in later phases of the programme.

Sustainability is another key part of the investment. The visit concluded at Stansted’s new on-site solar farm, which became operational in September. Described as the only facility of its kind at a London airport, it is helping to power the airport as part of its commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions from direct airport operations by no later than 2038.

The expansion builds on Stansted’s existing contribution to the regional and national economy. Figures from York Aviation indicate that the airport supports £11.3 billion in Gross Value Added annually through direct employment, trade and tourism.

Gareth Powell, London Stansted’s Managing Director, said:

“We were delighted to welcome the Secretary of State to London Stansted and join us to see first-hand the progress we are making in delivering our ambitious investment plans to create an airport ready for the future and offer an even greater choice of destinations for our passengers.

“This year has been a very exciting period for everyone connected with London Stansted as we continue to welcome a record number of passengers, new airlines and routes and drive forward the airport’s transformation programme, so today’s visit was a fantastic chance to showcase the real momentum we have behind our vision for London Stansted.

“As one of the UK’s busiest airports serving more than 30m passengers a year, London Stansted already plays a key role in providing international connectivity for London and the East of England, offering 200 destinations across 40 countries, and more scheduled connections to Europe than any other UK airport.

“World-leading carriers Emirates and Turkish Airlines also connect passengers to hundreds of global destinations via their hubs in Dubai and Istanbul and act as a gateway to the world for our region.

“Last year we secured planning permission to serve up to 51m passengers a year, which alongside our investment plans, provides us with a strong platform to unlock the spare capacity on our existing runway and deliver our ambitious plans to sustainably increase passenger numbers, support economic growth and make a significant contribution to improving the UK’s connectivity with the rest of the world.”

Heidi Alexander, Transport Secretary, said:

“We support airport expansion where it balances economic growth with climate, noise and air quality obligations. I’m pleased to see Stansted’s plans to grow passenger numbers responsibly – boosting connectivity, jobs and growth across the East of England, while meeting environmental commitments.

“Stansted’s new solar farm is a shining example of how airports can cut their carbon footprint and reduce emissions as they grow. This comes as we invest £43 million to boost innovation that makes the sector even greener.”

The five-year programme represents a major investment in Stansted’s terminal infrastructure and operational capacity. By expanding the terminal, improving passenger flows and making better use of its existing runway, the airport aims to accommodate future growth while strengthening its international connectivity and economic contribution.