Editing London Stansted Airport (section)

==== COVID-19 pandemic and recovery ====
The [[COVID-19 pandemic]] had a severe impact on London Stansted Airport, leading to a significant reduction in passenger numbers and operational challenges. In 2020, the airport served just over 7.5 million passengers, a large decline from its pre-pandemic levels of around 28 million annually.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=2021-03-15 |title=Stansted Airport anniversary overshadowed by 'crisis like no other' |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-essex-56385982 |access-date=2024-10-16 |language=en-GB}}</ref> At the height of the crisis, Stansted experienced a 95% drop in passenger footfall compared to 2019.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2021-04-21 |title=Coronavirus one year on: Stansted suffers 95 drop in passengers |url=https://www.saffronwaldenreporter.co.uk/news/21875763.coronavirus-one-year-stansted-suffers-95-drop-passengers/ |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=Saffron Walden Reporter |language=en}}</ref> [[Cargo aircraft|Cargo operations]], however, saw a 53% increase as the airport adapted to new demands.<ref name=":1" /> Airport authorities described the situation as an unprecedented crisis, likening the passenger levels to those seen in the early 1990s.<ref name=":0" />

As travel restrictions began to ease in July 2021, London Stansted Airport experienced widespread disruption as passenger numbers surged during the summer holidays. The airport faced staff shortages and increased COVID-19 documentation requirements, leading to long queues and chaotic scenes, with insufficient personnel available to manage the crowds effectively.<ref>{{Cite web |title=COVID-19: 'Total chaos' at UK airports on busiest weekend this year - with COVID checks and lack of staff blamed |url=https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-total-chaos-at-uk-airports-on-busiest-weekend-this-year-with-covid-checks-and-lack-of-staff-blamed-12363202 |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=Sky News |language=en}}</ref> The airport showed signs of recovery by late 2022, with passenger levels nearing 97% of pre-pandemic volumes.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-19 |title=New Ryanair routes drive record recovery at Stansted Airport |url=https://www.bishopsstortfordindependent.co.uk/news/new-ryanair-routes-drive-recovery-at-stansted-airport-9290146/ |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=Bishop's Stortford Independent |language=en}}</ref>

In the wake of this recovery, in 2023 Stansted Airport announced a £1.1 billion expansion plan including a £600m extension of the terminal and facilities,<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=London Stansted Airport Eyeing 2025 Start On Terminal Extension Construction {{!}} Aviation Week Network |url=https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/airports-networks/london-stansted-airport-eyeing-2025-start-terminal-extension |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=aviationweek.com}}</ref> to increase its capacity to serve up to 43 million passengers per year.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Henderson |first=Alice |date=15 Oct 2024 |title=Stansted airport outlines £1.1 billion investment plan over five years |url=https://www.businesstraveller.com/business-travel/2024/10/15/stansted-airport-outlines-1-1-billion-investment-plan-over-five-years/ |website=Business Traveller}}</ref> This expansion is expected to add 200 flights per day to the airport's schedule and create over 5,000 jobs over the next five years.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Guy |date=2024-10-14 |title=Stansted Airport to add 5,000 jobs as part of £1.1bn expansion plan |url=https://www.cityam.com/stansted-airport-to-add-5000-jobs-as-part-of-1-1bn-expansion-plan/ |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=CityAM |language=en-GB}}</ref>