Stansted given permission to raise passenger cap to 51 million

Stansted has secured planning approval to increase its annual passenger limit to 51 million.

The plans had been recommended for approval by officers at Uttlesford District Council and were approved at a meeting today (Wednesday, December 17).

Stansted said the decision “paves the way to make best use of our existing single runway” and grow passenger volumes towards the new limit over the next two decades.  

The airport’s bosses believe the extra passengers could be accommodated through larger planes, meaning the increase would not require a second runway or changes to the airport’s limit of 274,000 flights a year.

The airport said the move would create 4,500 new jobs, reduce congestion on the M11 and fund local bus services.

Managing director Gareth Powell said: “The opportunity is considerable as the full expansion of Stansted would deliver widespread social and economic benefits to the regions we serve, without any increase in the number of flights the airport is already permitted to operate and within the existing airport footprint.

“As we grow our airport over the next 20 years, we will do it sustainably – decarbonising our operations and ensuring half of all passengers accessing the airport do so via public transport.”

Stansted served nearly 30 million passengers in 2024, making it the third busiest airport in London and the fourth busiest in the UK.

Full approval is subject to final sign-off.