STANSTED has launched a campaign to attract long-haul traffic to the airport in time for summer 2000.
The airport is calling on businesses in its catchment area to show they can support flights from US, Canadian and Far East cities.
Stansted said any evidence which supports its ability to handle transatlantic and Asian services will be used in presentations to carriers such as United Airlines and Singapore Airlines.
Marketing director David Field said Stansted had now built up a European network and the next stage was to attract long-haul carriers.
Stansted is expanding its main terminal and satellite terminals to cope with an expected 15m passengers early nextcentury.