Stansted gets green light for growth

It has been announced that Stansted Airport has been given permission to increase passenger numbers on its single runway to 35 million a year.

The decision was made by Hazel Blears, secretary of state for communities and local government, and transport secretary Geoff Hoon.

Stewart Wingate, managing director of Stansted Airport, said that he was "delighted" with the decision, which reportedly came after a full and independent public inquiry last year.

"With longer term forecasts predicting passenger growth, this decision secures our future and allows us to plan ahead with certainty," he added.

"This is great news for the millions of leisure and business travellers who depend on Stansted to keep them connected with Europe and the wider world."

Stansted currently flies nearly 23 million passengers a year to some 165 destinations, the most popular of which include Edinburgh, Rome and Glasgow.

The news of its expansion follows an announcement from London City Airport that is has been given planning approval to increase its flight movements to 120,000 per year.

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