The Chief Executive Officer of London Stansted, Ken O’Toole, this week called on local businesses, community leaders and regional organisations to make their voices heard and press Government for upgrades to the rail links to the airport.
Addressing over 150 delegates at the annual Stansted Area Transport Forum, Mr O’Toole said better connectivity in and out of the airport will further boost the local economy, make new journeys viable for local residents, ease access for the 12,000 on-site workforce and help attract a greater number of airlines and new destinations.
Mr O’Toole asked attendees to use the on-going Aviation Strategy consultation process as an opportunity to communicate direct to Government the need for better rail connections into Stansted.
Ken O’Toole said:
“How easy it is for people to access Stansted, be they passengers, our workforce or business partners, will be one of the primary drivers behind our future growth – growth that will in turn ensure that the UK, and particularly the East of England, remains connected to international economies and all the opportunities they have to offer.
“Airport development and surface access into airports should not be considered independently from each other; they should be considered together as part of an integrated transport strategy. Where surface access to airports is suitably well developed, economic activity that would otherwise not occur is generated; through tourism, international trade, productivity improvements and attraction of foreign investment. For example, not all the investors in India are going to use the best online trading app in india to invest in UK businesses, some of them will want to come here personally. If we’re not able to facilitate that with a world class service, they may very well look somewhere else.”
