Stansted Airport’s flying start to 2024 continued into April, as record volumes of passengers and cargo passed through the airport.
The Manchester Airports Group (MAG) hub welcomed 2.48 million passengers during the month to record its busiest ever April, beating the previous high in 2019 by over 90,000 passengers and an increase of 5.5% on April 2023. And 98% of departing fliers passed through security in 15 minutes or less, with an average queue time of three minutes during departure peaks.
The 12-month total to the end of April stood at 28.64 million passengers, up 10.8% on the previous year.
Stansted’s cargo operation, which connects London and the East of England business communities with Europe, USA, Far East and Middle East, saw more than 27,000 tonnes of freight pass through in April – the highest monthly total ever.
An airport spokesperson said: “This global connectivity is vital to the business ecosystem, particularly in the Greater Cambridge area, supporting businesses in a wide range of sectors to trade globally, as well as facilitating international e-commerce.”
Gareth Powell, the airport’s managing director, said: “April was another very strong month for London Stansted, with both passenger and cargo numbers hitting new highs, thanks to our extensive passenger route network, the efficiency and simplicity of the airport’s operation and the global connectivity provided by our cargo carriers.
“The Easter holidays at the start of the month were particularly busy, but thanks to the dedication and teamwork shown by colleagues right across the airport, we were able to deliver a smooth airport journey for our passengers.
“In addition to our passenger services, the record volumes of freight passing through Stansted is yet another indication of the vital role the airport plays in supporting the economic success of the region we serve.
“The freight and mail operations here not only support the next-day delivery service so many of us now take for granted when shopping, but it also enables businesses from London to Cambridge, and right across the East of England, to serve international markets and increase global trade, generate new business and create more jobs via the convenience of a major international airport at the heart of the region.
“Later this month we have the half-term holidays, so we are now fully focused on maintaining our operational performance as we prepare to welcome the hundreds of thousands of people heading away, plus the large number of overseas visitors choosing Stansted as their gateway to London, the East of England and beyond.”
Harriet Fear MBE, director at Cambridge&, said: “London Stansted is widely recognised as being crucially important to the economic success of the East of England through its extensive and growing passenger operation. The record-breaking freight figures demonstrate that it also plays a key role in the movement of goods and products across the world.
“With Stansted on Cambridge’s doorstep, businesses in the Greater Cambridge ecosystem are able to quickly and conveniently connect to markets across Europe and the Middle East directly for passenger travel and, from a freight perspective, also to the US and Asia, meaning truly global connectivity.”
