Transport Secretary launches £80 million terminal redevelopment

The Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin today joined M.A.G chairman, Mike Davies OBE and Stansted Airport MD, Andrew Harrison to launch the start of an £80 million project to transform Stansted’s iconic terminal building and meet the demands of modern air travel.

The way passengers travel by air has dramatically changed over the last decade. For example, the overwhelming majority of Stansted passengers check-in online and over half travel without checked-in baggage. To reflect this, Stansted is undertaking the biggest transformation since the terminal opened in 1991 to improve all aspects of the passenger journey.

Stansted’s state-of-the-art Lord Foster designed terminal building will be enhanced by making better use of existing space and providing passengers with new security facilities and an enlarged departure lounge.

New owners M.A.G have wasted no time in identifying ways to improve the passenger experience, with the long-term ambition of becoming the best airport in London. To inform its approach to the redevelopment, M.A.G has used research by psychologists to understand the points when passengers feel confused, stressed and relaxed during their time at the airport. They also analysed changing trends and passenger expectations over recent years and in the future to inform the plans.

To ensure Stansted’s award winning terminal continues to provide passengers with award winning levels of service, M.A.G is investing £40 million in the project to redevelop the terminal – supported by a further £40 million that will be invested by commercial partners.

The transformation will provide a more intuitive and easier journey through the airport, a bigger and relocated security area, double the amount of seating, better restaurants and more shopping choice alongside improved way-finding and additional flight information screens. The new design will also provide flexibility to accommodate future airline requirements as Stansted grows it existing customer base and begins to attract a broader range of airline partners.

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said:

“Just three months into its ownership of the airport M.A.G. has shown it is prepared to invest in the infrastructure to improve passenger services and provide new facilities. The millions invested in this project will transform Stansted Airport’s terminal building and the way passengers use it. That’s not just good news for travellers, it’s also good news for the country because this sort of improvement to our transport infrastructure helps to make the UK more competitive in the global economic race.”

Stansted’s Managing Director, Andrew Harrison, said:

“Today marks the start of a significant investment programme to transform the terminal and help deliver our ambitious plans to radically improve Stansted and make it the airport of choice in London for airlines and passengers alike.

“The way airlines and passengers use the airport has dramatically changed over recent years with far fewer passengers using check-in desks or travelling with hold baggage but spending more time in the departure lounge.

“This exciting transformation project responds to these changing trends and will create a quicker and more efficient security process and bring some sparkle to what is already a fantastic terminal.

“Our focus is to provide great service and facilities and put Stansted in the strongest position to compete effectively for new routes, airlines and passengers and this transformation of our terminal is a critical element in achieving this aim and central to our future growth plans for Stansted.”