Updated Monday 10th October 2005
Stansted Expansion

Government plans for the future of air transport in the UK will result in major expansion at Stansted airport.

The 2003 White Paper The Future of Air Transport included a proposal to build up to three new runways at the airport, although it is unlikely that anything more than a single additional runway will be built.

Stansted Airport is owned and operated by BAA, a private company that owns 7 UK airports and has interests in other airports outside of the UK. Any expansion of Stansted or any other airport has to be planned and financed by BAA.

The airport's Master Plan consists of two phases - an interim plan that outlines growth up to 2015 on one runway, and a final plan for expansion up to 2030, which will feature proposals for a second runway.

Some of BAA's expansion plans have already been given planning permission, such as enlarging the existing terminal, additional aircraft stands and extensions to cargo handling facilities.

A further planning application will seek to remove the current limit of 241,000 flights per year and 25 million passengers. BAA expect Stansted to be handling 264,000 flight per year by 2015, the current figure for the year to June 2005 being 192,000. The vast majority of these are small to medium jets, such as Boeing 737s and Airbus A319. Large jets such as Boeing 747s account for just 2.5% of flights and all of these are freight. In passenger terms, the airport expects to see the number of people passing through the airport grow from the present figure of 21.6 million to 35 million in 2015. Freight is expected to more than double from a current level of 228,000 tonnes to 600,000 in 2015.

All expansion at the airport has to be paid for by BAA. The government has said that it will not provide any financial support. As well as funding the runway, BAA will also have to seek planning permission, as well as facing legal action from organisations that oppose the runway, such as local authorities and even airlines.

BAA cannot raise landing charges at Stansted following a ruling from the Civil Aviation Authority that caps the charges for the next five years. In addition, funds cannot be raised by increasing charges at other airports as the CAA prohibits cross-subsidies.

To read more about the Government Consultation on The Future Development of Air Transport visit www.airconsult.gov.uk.

See also:-
Second Runway Recommended
Second Consultation Issued
Public Meeting at County Hall
Airport Legal Challenge
Public Exhibition