London Stansted exceeded pre-pandemic levels in July

As the summer months pass by, the aviation industry in the United Kingdom is slowly finding its feet back from the depths of despair caused by Covid-19. London Stansted, the country’s fourth-busiest passenger airport, is leading the charge, with July being the first month it exceeded pre-pandemic levels of passenger throughput. A remarkable feat indeed, and one that is sure to be an inspiring story for airlines, airports and passengers alike.

1. “London Stansted Flies Alone: Airport Experiences Unexpected Success

The surprise success of London Stansted Airport has been nothing short of astounding. It seemed that the “little brother” of other larger airports around the UK such as Heathrow or Gatwick wouldn’t get the same traction as its proverbial siblings – yet Stansted has proven doubters wrong.

Proving its resilience, Stansted has undergone extensive improvements to make sure that it’s ticking off all the boxes in terms of quality and convenience. Amongst these improvements include:

• Longer terminal opening hours, to make the journey smoother
• Streamlined online ticket purchasing for faster, more accessible transactions
• A shorter average security wait time

These changes, combined with a plethora of connections to major European cities, have given flyers a cost-effective way of taking to the skies. Stansted has become a favourite amongst business travellers, vacationers, and everyone in-between. As the success continues to ascend, so too does the airport itself – in the rankings, and in the hearts of those who wish to soar through the skies.

2. “Airport Witnesses Surprising Uptick in July Traffic

The summer months saw a surprising rise in travelers opting for airport departures, a trend that flew against what many expected would be a decrease due to the pandemic. In a time when many believed air travel would be nearly non-existent, airports around the world saw a notable uptick in July traffic.

The surge in activity was due to a number of factors:

• Lowered prices: Airlines implemented lowered fares to tempt passengers back into the air.
• New safety measures: Airport staff members getting proper PPE and enforcing social distancing protocols to keep passengers safe.
• Flexibility: Driven in part by the increased flexibility airlines gave passengers regarding cancellations and rebookings.

On the whole, passenger count still pale in comparison to pre-COVID-19 numbers, but it’s clear that a new, albeit uneasy, normal is emerging. What the rest of the summer season will look like remains to be seen, but airport operators are taking heart from these unexpected results.

3. “London Stansted: A Covid-19 Beating Exception

One of the few airports that is a bright light in the dark pandemic times is London Stansted Airport. Famous for its value for money and affordability, the airport is not only known for its fair costs, but also for its exceptional reputation and service delivery in the face of the pandemic.

Stansted has managed to make the most of its aviation industry credentials to win customers’ confidence, offering:

• Sanitized and clean facilities: To ensure maximum sanitation, the airport has boosted frequencies of its daily cleaning routines, and thoroughly disinfects all areas
• Minimum contact security protocol: Customers can go through the security checks with minimal contact to ensure safety
• airbridge operations: Transparency and safety is key in airbridge operations, therefore Stansted is deploying state-of-the-art technology to analyze and inspect customers’ documents and check passports

4. “Defying the Post-Pandemic Norm: London Stansted on Course for Recovery

The worldwide restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic have had a far-reaching impact on multiple aspects of our lives, none more so than air travel. Despite numerous obstacles placed on its road to recovery, London Stansted Airports is making strides, defying the post-pandemic norm.

Firstly, passenger numbers are steadily rising again – despite the ongoing travel restrictions – with figures for July 2020 reflecting a 20.6% increase on the corresponding period last year. On an even brighter note, statistics show that Stansted’s cargo freight volumes are continuing to surge, with the airport having seen a record-breaking July, consolidating its position as one of the leading airfreight hubs in the UK.

• Boost in passenger numbers
• Surging cargo freight volumes
• Establishing itself as a UK airfreight hub

Taking a look at the future, Stansted has remarked on their ambitious vision for the rest of the year, neither wasting time nor energy in their pursuit of development and growth. With the airport planning to add several flights to mainland Europe, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific regions in the coming months, London Stansted is demonstrating its resilience, poise and fortitude in the face of adversity.

• Ambitious vision for the rest of the year
• New flights to Europe, Middle East and Asia-Pacific
• Demonstrate resilience, poise and fortitude

A sign of hope for the airline industry, the return of travelers to London Stansted indicates that there is an increasing demand for travel and that the sector is beginning to recover from the impacts of the pandemic. With increased safety measures like mask-wearing and social distancing, travelers can continue to explore the wonders of London Stansted with confidence and faith that their journeys will be safe and enjoyable.