Stansted passenger numbers continue to fall – indication that airport growth is not needed
Stansted Airport handled 1.9 million passengers in January, 30,000 fewer than the same month last year, making this its 7th consecutive month of decline. A number of reasons have been suggested for Stansted’s decline, including the non delivery of Boeing 737 Max aircraft to Ryanair, the collapse of Thomas Cook and now also the Coronavirus. However it is noteworthy that Stansted’s main competitor, London Luton Airport, achieved 6.8% growth in passenger numbers during the second half of 2019 whereas Stansted passenger numbers fell by 2.5%. Stop Stansted Expansion say these figures are all the more surprising in view of the many new routes which Stansted has announced in recent months, suggesting that many of its well-established routes have declined quite sharply. Stansted’s cargo business also continues to be in decline with the tonnage carried in January down by 20.2% compared to the same month last year. This follows a 9.6% decline in cargo tonnage in 2019. Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE) Chairman Peter Sanders commented: “These latest Stansted Airport traffic figures provide further confirmation that there is no need to approve further expansion at Stansted for the foreseeable future.”
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STANSTED PASSENGER NUMBERS CONTINUE TO SLIDE
24th FEBRUARY 2020
STOP STANSTED EXPANSION press release
Stansted Airport handled 1.9 million passengers in January, 30,000 fewer than the same month last year, making this its seventh consecutive month of decline.
A number of reasons have been suggested for Stansted’s decline over the seven months including the non delivery of Boeing 737 Max aircraft to Ryanair, the collapse of Thomas Cook and now also the Coronavirus.
However it is noteworthy that Stansted’s main competitor, London Luton Airport, achieved 6.8% growth in passenger numbers during the second half of 2019 whereas Stansted passenger numbers fell by 2.5%.
These figures are all the more surprising in view of the many new routes which Stansted has announced in recent months, suggesting that many of its well-established routes have declined quite sharply.
Stansted’s cargo business also continues to be in decline with the tonnage carried in January down by 20.2% compared to the same month last year. This follows a 9.6% decline in cargo tonnage in 2019.
Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE) Chairman Peter Sanders commented: “These latest Stansted Airport traffic figures provide further confirmation that there is no need to approve further expansion at Stansted for the foreseeable future. Stansted’s existing planning consents already allow very considerable headroom for growth in passenger numbers, flights and cargo volumes.”
Peter Sanders continued: “Stansted’s owners, the Manchester Airports Group (MAG), has always insisted that its planning application should be decided locally by Uttlesford District Council (UDC) rather than nationally. MAG should therefore respect the UDC decision of 24 January to refuse the application, noting that the vote of the cross-party Planning Committee was a resounding 10 v 0.”
Peter Sanders concluded: “Despite a large proportion of its shares being held in an offshore tax haven, MAG is a major UK plc and that privilege brings with it certain corporate and social responsibilities. Accordingly, instead of prolonging the uncertainty, MAG should make clear that it will not appeal against the UDC decision to refuse planning consent for further expansion of Stansted Airport. The local community is entitled to some long term peace of mind.”
ENDS
FURTHER INFORMATION AND COMMENT
- Peter Sanders, SSE Chairman, T 01799 520411; petersanders77@talktalk.net
- Brian Ross, SSE Deputy Chairman: 01279 814961; (M) 07850 937143 brian.ross@lineone.net
- SSE Campaign Office: 01279 870558; info@stopstanstedexpansion.com
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