Stansted Airport's ambition to raise its global profile has received a major boost after gaining approval to handle the world's largest airliners.
The Civil Aviation Authority has awarded the UK's third busiest airportCode F status, which now allows aircraft such as the Airbus A380 and thenew Boeing 747-8 to operate from the airport.
The official go-ahead, which follows months of work to demonstrate theairport's operational readiness to handle these aircraft, now opens thedoor for new airline growth for both passenger and cargo operations.
An immediate benefit has seen Stansted named as Emirates' alternativeairport for their A380 aircraft, if they are forced to divert as aprecaution or if the destination airport is unavailable.
Stansted's Commercial and Development Director, Nick Barton, who along withthe airport's managing director, David Johnson, recently visited a numberof the Middle East's largest airlines who use or plan to use the A380 ,said:
"We're delighted to have won permission to handle the world's biggest CodeF aircraft, an achievement that will make Stansted even more attractive topotential carriers - both passengers and cargo. It's credit to the originaldesigners of Stansted who showed astonishing vision in the 1980s to createan airport capable of handling the superjets of the future.
"Our mission is to make sure the world's aviation decision makers know allabout the excellent, modern facilities we have on offer here at Stansted.Gaining Code F status gives us a competitive advantage as we focus our workand energy towards airlines from across the Middle and Far East, and theUSA.
"We have the drive, ambition and desire to succeed, and we are veryconfident we can achieve our aim of making Stansted the London airport ofchoice in the years ahead."
Singapore Airlines, Qantas, Air France, Lufthansa and Emirates are the fiveairlines currently using the Airbus superjumbo but many more airlines havethem on order.
Matthew Knowles, spokesman for ADS the UK's Aerospace, Defence and Securitytrade organisation, explained some of the environmental benefits of the newgeneration of aircraft.
"The Airbus A380 is more fuel efficient than a hybrid car and produces lessperceived noise at take off than that experienced by a passenger inside aLondon Underground Train. Furthermore, half of the aircraft, when fittedwith Rolls- Royce engines alongside other major contributions from Britishfirms, is made in the UK," said Mr Knowles.
