London Stansted has unveiled the next stage in its airport-wide transformation. Speaking at the Future Travel Experience industry conference in London last week, the airport’s Managing Director Andrew Harrison described the vision of owner Manchester Airports Group for the transformation of the Stansted passenger experience, and outlined the gateway’s plans for the second phase of its development – the £8 million (€10.7m) renovation of its Satellite One departure area. Remodelling and modernising the areas of the airport most valued by passengers, he explained, is at the heart of its strategy, and it will also create a more tailored and differentiated airport product for its airlines.
The forthcoming phase of Stansted Airport’s transformation will include the £8 million (€10.7m) redevelopment of the airport’s Satellite One, which will not only make the area modern and contemporary in style but provide enhanced passenger facilities such as comfortable seating and refurbished toilets, as well as free charging points and improved WiFi.
Stansted Airport is at the centre of a booming catchment, and since it was acquired by MAG in February 2013 has entered into a period of unprecedented growth – exceeding the throughput of its 2006 peak and once again becoming the UK’s fastest growing airport. Monthly traffic in December grew by 18.5% to over 1.56 million – almost 250,000 more passengers than in the same month in 2013, and a level of growth that Chairman of the UK Airports Commission Howard Davies predicted it would take until 2020 to achieve. Now in the slipstream of this growth, Stansted Airport is in a position to broaden its carrier base, and continue to develop its facilities to further meet the needs of its airlines and passengers.
Harrison explained that when MAG took control of the airport two years ago the terminal was suffering from a lack of investment, but that Norman Foster’s original building design had been created with the future in mind, allowing for the asset’s continued expansion and providing the opportunity to create a more efficient and flexible asset that can adapt to the needs of the evolving industry. “The transformation of Stansted is well underway,” he said.
“Airline and passenger needs are inextricably linked,” explained Stansted Airport’s Managing Director Andrew Harrison at the Future Travel Experience event, where he underscored the necessity for airports to be flexible to the changes of the fast-moving aviation industry.
The rejuvenation of Satellite One is part of a wider £260 million (€350m) investment programme, driven by the airport’s ambition to offer choice, and attract more passengers, airlines and long-haul services to Stansted. “It’s about trying to get an insight into the mindset,” Harrison stated. “To understand the needs of our customers and anticipate them.” The multi-million pound upgrade of Satellite One will not only make the area modern and contemporary in style but provide enhanced passenger facilities such as comfortable seating and refurbished toilets, as well as free charging points and improved WiFi. Space is also being secured for bespoke lounge facilities to be developed to differentiate the offer for airlines.
“These are really exciting times and will be a significant turning point in the airport’s history. Having successfully returned Stansted to growth, making it once again London’s fastest growing airport, we’re driving forward our ambition to attract a greater mix of airlines, including long-haul connections to serve our region and the London-Stansted-Cambridge economic growth corridor,” Harrison continued.
“The value of these investments isn’t just about how much is being spent, it’s the focus being placed on delivering designs and facilities that work for both our passengers and airline partners because the money we spend has to represent value for both. I’m really excited and looking forward to this time next year when this phase of redevelopment will be completed and our passengers can fully experience how Stansted is changing because this is just the beginning.”
Significant progress has been made over the past year with the £80 million (€107m) transformation of the terminal building. £4 million (€5m) was invested in a state-of-the-art new security area, which has doubled in size, features four extra lanes, and increased passenger throughput to 5,500 passengers an hour. The new facility opened last year alongside phase one of the brand new departure lounge, including its flagship entrance through the biggest walkthrough World Duty Free Store in the World Duty Free Group.
Design plans for Stansted’s new airport-owned Escape Lounge were also unveiled at the Future Travel Experience event. The multi-use lounge is an exciting development, which serves the needs of Stansted’s changing passenger profile and the first of its kind in the main departures area in the airport’s 24-year history.
All new cafés, bars and restaurants will also open at the airport during Spring – including many firsts not just for Stansted Airport but the travel industry too. The Harris + Hoole café will offer speciality grade coffee for the first time to airport passengers, and Stansted will also see the opening of the first UK airport Coast to Coast store; the first Starbucks outside of the US to feature a speciality evening menu and a selection of wines; the first ever James Martin Kitchen; and the new Halo champagne bar concept, designed specifically for London Stansted Airport. Successful tenders for the remaining 16 retail units will be announced in the coming months.
