Stansted Airport Parking

Stansted airport history

Stansted was constructed by the United States Army in 1942 as a bomber base. By 1944, over 600 aircraft were stationed there. The base played a major role in the Battle of Normandy.

After the war, the base was not needed; it was transferred to the Air Ministry in 1947. The US military returned in 1954 to extend the runway for a possible transfer to NATO but this was never realised and the airport ended up under BAA control in 1966.

During the 60s, 70s and early 80s the Fire Service Training School (FSTS) was based on the Eastern side of the Airfield under the auspices of the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation, succeeded by the Civil Aviation Authority. The School was reponsible for the training of all Aviation Fire Crews for UK Airfields. They also trained personnel for many overseas countries. After the decision, the School was transferred to Teeside where it still continues training Firemen.

Initially, the airport was used by holiday charter operators wishing to escape the higher costs associated with operating from Heathrow and Gatwick. From the outset, however, BAA and the British government planned to develop Stansted into London's third airport, to relieve Heathrow and Gatwick of excess congestion in the future. The airport's first terminal building opened in 1969 and was expanded the next year to handle the growing number of passengers.

In 1984, the government approved a plan to develop Stansted in two phases, involving both airfield and terminal improvements that would increase the airport's capacity to 15 million passengers per year. Construction of the current terminal building began in 1986 and was completed in 1991, and was designed by the internationally acclaimed Sir Norman Foster.

American Airlines operated a transatlantic service between Stansted and Chicago in the early 1990s, but this was unprofitable and was withdrawn. Continental Airlines later operated a service between Stansted and Newark, New Jersey using a Boeing 757-200. However, this service was withdrawn for commercial reasons after September 11, 2001. In late 2005, Eos Airlines and MAXjet Airways commenced an all business class service from Stansted to New York-JFK, with EOS using a Boeing 757-200 and MAXjet using a 767-200. In April 2006, MAXjet expanded their service with flights to Washington DC's Dulles airport. Pakistan International Airlines started services to Stansted in August 2006 and is currently operating 2 flights a week to Islamabad & Karachi.

Tentative plans have been published for the addition of up to three more runways. If the Uttlesford district council approves the current plan, Stansted is to get a second parallel runway which should allow the airport to increase its capacity from 12 million in 2000 to 74 million air passengers in 2030.

In 2004, the number of passengers using Stansted rose 11.7% to 20.9 million and in 2005 it rose by 5.3% to 21.9 million.

This history article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article " London Stansted Airport".