The start of three Thomas Cook transatlantic flights and the summer getaway helped contribute to more than two million passengers using Stansted last month.
A total of 2.19 million passengers gave the airport the busiest July since 2008.
The figure was up 12.5% on the same month last year, representing an increase of more than 240,000 passengers.
The total number of passengers flying in the year to July rose to 21.8 million, an increase of 16.5% over the previous 12 months.
Stansted claims this is the highest annual rate of growth of any major UK airport.
Lufthansa’s new short and mid-haul subsidiary Eurowings will begin a Stansted-Vienna service in November with six flights a week using an Airbus A320.
Airport managing director, Andrew Harrison, said: “The beginning of the school holidays and our trio of exciting new long-haul flights have played their part in boosting passenger numbers in July – our busiest in seven years.
“It’s great to see a growing airport and over the last few months we have been growing at double the rate of Heathrow and Gatwick. It’s a real boost for the airport and it’s a great reflection on the east of England region and its economic vibrancy.
“During the month we welcomed the return of long-haul services to Stansted as Thomas Cook launched flights to Orlando, Las Vegas and Mexico.
“It was fitting to see those new flights depart from our newly refurbished Satellite One departure area. This £8 million project forms part of our wider £260 million investment programme to improve airport facilities and services for passengers and airlines.”