In May, London Stansted Airport achieved a notable performance milestone. The airport welcomed 2.74 million passengers, a new record for the busiest month in its history.
This figure surpassed the previous May high from 2024 by over 21,000 travellers, marking a 0.8% increase.
The surge was fuelled by thousands of Tottenham Hotspur fans traveling to Bilbao and other Spanish airports. Football fans took to scheduled flights, charter services, and private jets to watch their team clinch the Europa League title.
The victorious Spurs squad returned to a celebratory water-arch salute at the airport, trophy in hand.
London Stansted May Performance
The airport’s extensive network, offering over 200 destinations across Europe and beyond, has driven significant growth. Over the past 12 months, passenger numbers reached 29.97 million, a 4.0% rise compared to the previous year.
Popular destinations in May included Spain, Italy, and Turkey, with Dublin, Istanbul, and Edinburgh topping the list of individual routes. This robust performance underscores Stansted’s appeal as a key travel hub with diverse, affordable destinations.
Operational efficiency remained a priority, with 99% of passengers clearing security in 15 minutes or less.
During peak departure times, the average queue time was under two and a half minutes, ensuring a seamless experience for passengers. This reliability supports the airport’s reputation for delivering smooth operations even during high-traffic periods.
New Domestic Arrivals Building
A significant highlight of the month was the opening of a new domestic arrivals building, a major step in London Stansted’s £1.2 billion transformation project.
This state-of-the-art facility enhances passenger experience and marks progress in the airport’s ambitious modernization efforts.
Work has also begun on upgrading Satellite Two, with improvements including new flooring, lighting, gate areas, and a refurbished domestic departures lounge. These enhancements aim to elevate comfort and convenience for travellers.
Planning Application Submitted
To accommodate future growth, London Stansted submitted a planning application to Uttlesford District Council to raise its annual passenger cap from 43 million to 51 million by the 2040s, without increasing permitted flight numbers.
This move reflects the airport’s anticipation of rising demand, driven by an expanding route network and airlines deploying larger aircraft to serve more passengers.
Conclusion
Nick Millar, Operations Director at London Stansted, summed up the monthly performance. “Our extensive route network and diverse, great-value destinations continue to attract record-breaking passenger numbers.”
“May was especially exciting, with thousands of Tottenham Hotspur fans using Stansted as their gateway to Bilbao for the Europa League final. Alongside delivering smooth operations during this busy period, we’re making excellent progress on our £1.2 billion transformation program.”
“The new domestic reclaim building is a key milestone, and we’re excited about ongoing upgrades to Satellite Two.”
As London Stansted continues to grow, its commitment to operational excellence and infrastructure development positions it as a leading choice for travellers.
The proposed passenger cap increase ensures the airport can meet future demand sustainably, maintaining its role as a vital hub for both leisure and business travel across Europe and beyond.