London Stansted Airport has recently announced record-breaking passenger numbers for the month of July, surpassing pre-pandemic levels and indicating a positive recovery trend for the aviation industry.
With over 2.8 million passengers, the airport achieved an impressive 102% of the numbers recorded in July 2019, marking a 13% increase from the same period. This performance positions July 2021 as the third busiest month in the airport’s history, following August 2018 and August 2019.
A Strong Start to the Summer Getaway
The last day of July proved to be the busiest so far this year for London Stansted, with approximately 97,000 passengers passing through the airport. These figures are a testament to the airport’s popularity and the confidence of travellers in the safety and convenience it offers. Dublin emerged as the most sought-after destination, followed closely by Istanbul and Palma de Mallorca.
According to Gareth Powell, the managing director of London Stansted, “Having handled more than 2.8 million passengers in July, we are proud to be the first major UK airport to report volumes in excess of what we saw in 2019, before the pandemic. In fact, this was our busiest July ever, and the third busiest month on record at London Stansted.”
Effortless Departure Experience
London Stansted Airport takes pride in its efficiency and commitment to providing a seamless travel experience for passengers. In July, an impressive 97% of customers passed through the departure lounge in 15 minutes or less, with an average queue time of under seven minutes throughout the month. This excellent performance is a result of the airport’s investment in infrastructure, equipment, and staff.
Collaborative Success and Future Outlook
The remarkable success of London Stansted in July is attributed to the hard work and dedication of the airport’s colleagues and the collaboration with its partners. The airport experienced minimal flight cancellations, further enhancing its reputation for reliability. With the summer season in full swing, London Stansted is confident that this strong performance will continue in the coming weeks.
Gareth Powell expressed his confidence, stating, “Our summer getaway has got off to a very strong start thanks to the hard work and dedication of our colleagues and great collaboration with all our airport partners. We are confident this trend will continue across the remainder of the summer.”
Heathrow also Hits Record Numbers
While London Stansted celebrated its record-breaking numbers, London Heathrow also witnessed an increase in passenger traffic. In July, Heathrow welcomed 7.6 million passengers, marking the fifth-highest monthly figure recorded at the airport. However, it is important to note that this number still falls slightly short of the passenger volume recorded in July 2019, indicating a gradual recovery for the aviation industry as a whole.