Record breaking May at Stansted as passenger numbers soar

Passenger numbers were up 4.6% on 2015 during the busiest May on record at the airport. Load factors - the average number of seats occupied on each flight – also hit a new all-time high for the month of May at 87.1%.
 
In the 12 months ending May 2016, the total number of passengers using Stansted grew to over 23.3 million, up 9.3% and an increase of two million passengers over the previous year.
 
Cargo volumes also recorded a significant increase in the month, up 9.2% over May 2015. The annual total now stands at over 247,000 tonnes, an increase of 6.2% over the last year and the highest yearly total since 2005.
 
Andrew Cowan, Stansted’s CEO, said:  “I’m pleased to once again report very positive passenger growth at Stansted as we recorded our busiest ever May at the airport, driven by all-time high load factors for the month and despite the continuing disruption of air traffic control strikes in France.
 
“Passenger numbers were also boosted by the start of the first B787 Dreamliner flights by Thomson to the USA and Mexico, the launch of British Airways sell-out first flights to Spain and Portugal plus increased frequency on key Ryanair routes.
 
“To help improve efficiency, provide more choice and increase capacity to keep up with forecast growth in the coming years, work is underway on a series of new projects to enhance the passenger experience as we continue to invest in new facilities and services to make Stansted the airport of choice for the region.”

 
*******
 
For further information contact Stansted Airport press office:
T: +44 (0)1279 680534
E: mediacentre@stanstedairport.com
W: stanstedairport.com   
twitter: @STN_PressOffice
 ______________________________________________