The Viscount of Oxfuirdasked Her Majesty's Government:
What decision they have reached on options to increase the limit on aircraft movements at Stansted Airport.
§ Viscount GoschenFollowing consultation with interested parties, a draft order is being laid today to provide for an increase in the Aircraft Movement Limit from 78,000 per annum to 120,000 per annum. Based on the latest information about the average number of passengers per aircraft, a revised limit of 120,000 movements per year will allow a throughput of 8 million passengers per annum. This throughput is expected to be reached in around 2000/2001.
This proposal is consistent with the planning inquiry's conclusion that the timing of the further development of Stansted to a capacity of 15 million passengers per annum should depend on the rate of growth of demand.
The Government welcome the development of the less busy airports in the South East. The increase to 120,000 movements per year would permit the continued growth of Stansted, providing more jobs for the local communities, in line with the further development of the associated infrastructure. This new limit would also ensure that growth of the airport is phased, allowing BAA, the airport operator, to invest in new facilities at the terminal as business grows.