London Stansted Airport is poised for its biggest summer yet as millions prepare to jet away in the school holidays.
The airport is forecasting it will welcome more than 4 million passengers during the peak summer season, with schools set to break-up at the end of this week.
The prediction comes, as it revealed June’s passenger numbers bounced-back to near pre-pandemic levels.
Nearly 2.6m passengers passed through its doors last month, an increase of 11% on June 2022 and 98% of the passenger volumes served in June 2019.
The total number of passengers served in the last 12-months now stands at 26.5 million – up 64% on last year.
Across the early part of the summer season, the airport has also delivered a consistent level of customer service for passengers.
In the quarter from April-June 97% of passengers passed through security in 15 minutes or less.
The airport is working hard to maintain this high level of service as it prepares for the peak summer getaway.
As part of its preparations, the arrivals hall has undergone a major refurbishment with new eco-friendly seating, improved food and beverage options and a new layout designed to facilitate faster and smoother passenger flow.
Seating capacity in the area has increased by 50 per cent to almost 500 seats and includes integrated tables and USB charging points for greater comfort and convenience.
While a second Leon restaurant at the airport, along with the refurbishment of Burger King and Costa Coffee outlets, will boost the airport’s line-up of big-name dining options.
The quiet seating area in the departure lounge has also been upgraded, with 200 eco-friendly seats providing a peaceful environment for passengers who want to spend their pre-flight time away from the main thoroughfare.
The seats are designed with comfort and sustainability in mind, and a variety of charging points have been installed for passengers’ convenience.
Jonathan Fowler, London Stansted Chief Operating Officer, said:
“This summer’s getaway is already well underway as we welcomed 2.6 million passengers in June, which represents 98% of pre-covid levels.
“These numbers will continue to increase, and we expect this will be our busiest summer ever, with over 4 million passengers passing through during the school holidays.
“In preparation for the getaway, we have upgraded our arrivals hall and the quiet seating area in the departure lounge in order to ensure that passengers have the best possible experience.
“They can be confident we are all working very hard and doing all we can to ensure their holidays get off to the best possible start when flying from London Stansted.”
Last week, the airport announced it was submitting a planning application for a terminal extension.
The plans will significantly improve the experience for passengers and provide terminal capacity for the airport’s growth within its agreed planning c
