Stansted Airport Chamber of Commerce

BAA expressed delight today at the decision by the Government to grant permission for increased passenger numbers on Stansted's existing single runway.

On all significant points BAA's case was fully supported by the Planning Inspector and endorsed by the Government.

The decision, taken jointly by Transport Secretary, Geoff Hoon and Hazel Blears, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, will allow Stansted to serve up to 35 million passengers a year.

Welcoming the news, Stansted's managing director, Stewart Wingate, said:

"We are naturally delighted with this decision coming as it does after a full and independent public inquiry last year. With longer term forecasts predicting passenger growth, this decision secures our future and allows us to plan ahead with certainty.

"We will now take time to study the full detail of the decision, including the independent Planning Inspector's report, before commenting further.

"What we can say today however is that this is great news for the millions of leisure and business travellers who depend on Stansted to keep them connected with Europe and the wider world."