A 12% annual increase in passengers using Stansted last year ensured it was the airport’s busiest year since 2008.
The Essex airport handled 19.98 million passengers in 2014, more than two million over the previous year, making it the UK’s fastest growing airport, according to its owners Manchester Airports Group.
Last month’s numbers grew by 18.5% to more than 1.56 million as the traditional Christmas getaway helped make the month the busiest December at Stansted since 2007.
Stansted managing director Andrew Harrison said: “We are determined to drive the campaign for faster and more reliable rail links between London and the region with our partners along the London-Stansted-Cambridge corridor and will continue to highlight to the Airports Commission and government the important role Stansted will play in the UK’s aviation system over the next 10-15 years, and the critical importance of making best use of this existing capacity.”
He added: “The significant growth in passenger numbers – including our busiest December and Christmas getaway for seven years – has seen Stansted once again become the fastest-growing airport in the UK, driven by the improved commercial relationships we have successfully developed with our airline partners.
“We have made excellent progress on our £80 million terminal upgrade and we are now well into the final phase of this project as we complete the remaining bars, restaurants, shops and a new seating area in the departure lounge.
“This is geared towards transforming airport services and facilities and driving greater customer improvements.
“We now look forward to building on the success of the last year during 2015 and attracting even more passengers, airlines and routes to Stansted.
“Flybe will soon launch new services across the UK and, in the summer, Thomas Cook will be launching long-haul flights to the USA and Mexico. The coming months will also see the opening of our new Escape passenger lounge in the terminal.”