UK. London Stansted airport has been named Europe’s fastest-growing major airport for a record third year in a row.
Preliminary data published by Airports Council International (ACI) for 2002 confirms Stansted as Europe’s leader with growth of +17.5% and 16.04 million passengers for the year.
The dramatic rise in passengers numbers has also seen Stansted move up the table of the world’s leading airports.
It is now the 64th busiest airport in the world, a leap of ten places from last year’s position of 74th. Out of the world’s 20 largest airports last year, 12 experienced a decline in passenger traffic. Apart from Stansted, other fast-growing airports around the world last year were Seoul Incheon (up +44.4%), which benefited from a transfer of flights from Kimpo; Shanghai Pudong +57.2%, Jakarta (+27.7%); Cincinatti International (+20.5%); Dubai (+18.3%), Shenzhen (+20.3%); Guangzhou (+15.0%) and Beijing (+12.3%).
At Stansted, growth has been supported by continuing demand within the low fares airline sector. Airport owner BAA said this boom has increased the opportunities to fly within Europe for millions of new air travellers.
The airport’s retail business has rocketed accordingly and is consistently one of BAA’s star performers.
BAA Stansted business development and planning director Chris Butler said: “To be the fastest-growing major airport in Europe for a third successive year is a fantastic achievement and something to be proud of. To keep pace with continuing demand we have secured planning permission to develop Stansted to serve 25 million passengers a year.”
See also the Airports Council International website www.airports.org
