London Stansted Airport, which serves as London’s third busiest airport with over 18 million passengers a year, has announced a comprehensive GBP 1.1 billion (about USD 1.3 billion) investment plan to improve passenger services and increase its capacity. 

According to a press statement by Stansted, this expansion will enable Stansted to handle up to 43 million passengers annually, creating 5,000 new jobs and doubling the airport’s annual economic contribution to GBP 2 billion.

The statement adds that the highlight of the initiative is a GBP 600 million extension to the airport’s existing terminal, designed to enhance the passenger experience with a more spacious, modern layout featuring increased seating areas, additional shops, bars, and restaurants. 

The expanded terminal will feature an enlarged immigration hall and additional baggage carousels

According to the Stansted statement, the development plans were presented at the United Kingdom Government’s International Investment Summit, following record-breaking passenger traffic in 2024. 

It says that with planning permission already secured, the first images and a video of the new terminal have been released. 

The expanded terminal will feature an enlarged immigration hall, additional baggage carousels, and a more spacious departure lounge equipped with next-generation security lanes.

Other key improvements in the GBP 1.1 billion investment programme include an enlarged security hall with cutting-edge equipment, a 14.3MW on-site solar farm to meet future energy needs, upgrades to seating, gate areas, wayfinding kiosks and terminal facilities.

Gareth Powell

It also includes airfield taxiway improvements and the addition of an Emirates business lounge and baggage reclaim facilities.

“These exciting plans will not only add more choice and convenience for passengers but also give us the space we need to grow. Stansted is a vital hub for London and the East of England, and this investment will boost our competitiveness while supporting economic growth and international connectivity,” says Gareth Powell, Managing Director, London Stansted.

The statement adds that the five-year project comes as the airport reaches new milestones, handling a record 29.3 million passengers in the year leading up to September 2024. 

In the coming months, passengers can expect an expanded range of airlines and destinations, with recent additions like Royal Jordanian and Sun Express, alongside the return of British Airways.

Jackie Sadek

Stansted’s improvements underscore its commitment to sustainable growth and supporting London’s future aviation needs, reinforcing its role as a key player in the UK’s airport network.

“This is to be welcomed with open arms. London Stansted provides vital underpinning for the current GBP 189 billion per annum GVA of the UK Innovation Corridor, and this new investment will be crucial for our shared mission to double the size of our economy by 2040.  We are definitely on our way,” says Jackie Sadek, Independent Chair of the UK Innovation Corridor.

John Dickie

“As a gateway to the world, London Stansted plays a critical role in welcoming visitors to London and the UK. This investment is a vote of confidence in the capital that will boost our global connectivity and enhance the experience of passengers. It will also underpin regional growth and will help us remain a world leader in the highly competitive international market,” says John Dickie, Chief Executive of BusinessLDN.

Harriet Fear

“International connectivity is vitally important for organisations based in the innovative sectors that are so strong in the East of England, making London Stansted key to the success of the region and beyond. This significant new investment into the airport’s infrastructure, which will help create an even better experience for passengers and support the airport’s long-term route development aims, is wonderful to see,” says Harriet Fear, Chair of Cambridge Ahead.