After a record-breaking January, London Stansted Airport braces for its busiest week of the year so far, as thousands of travellers prepare for the half-term holiday.
With the start of school holidays in the region, an estimated 360,000 passengers are set to depart over the next week from the airport, with families from the East of England seeking winter sun, skiing adventures, and cherished reunions.
Popular destinations for winter getaways include the Canary Islands, Southern Spain, Turkey, and Dubai, while skiing enthusiasts favour spots like Geneva, Chambery, Grenoble, Turin, Innsbruck, and Zurich.
Additionally, European city breaks to Edinburgh, Vienna, Amsterdam, Dublin, and Barcelona attract those opting for shorter trips. London Stansted advises passengers to arrive at the airport two to three hours before departure, follow hand luggage rules, and stay informed about potential travel disruptions.
Nick Millar, London Stansted’s Operations Director, said: ‘Our teams are looking forward to helping passengers get their trips off to the best possible start, but we do suggest a few simple steps that will ensure their journey is as seamless as possible.
‘We recommend that you check with your airline on when you need to arrive at the airport, which is normally two to three hours before departure, and to familiarise yourselves with hand luggage rules.
‘This includes the limits in place on liquids, gels and pastes, which must be placed in a clear plastic bag in containers under 100ml.
‘We also advise to plan your journey to the airport and check for travel disruption before setting off.’
London Stansted’s strong start to 2024, highlighted by its busiest January ever with 1.95 million passengers, paves the way for new routes launching in the coming months. Among these are Royal Jordanian’s service to Amman, British Airways flights to Nice, Florence, and Ibiza, as well as expansions from Ryanair, Jet2.com, and Sun Express.