London Stansted Airport (STN)
History, Facts and Overview

(London, England, UK)

London Stansted Airport began its life as the Stansted Mountfitchet Airfield in 1942, when it was used as a base for the US Air Force during the war. In the mid-1950s and still being used for military purposes, the airport's runway was lengthened and by the early 1960s, passenger flights were in operation.

Package holidays played a major part in the enormous success of London Stansted Airport and by the late 1960s, the airport was under the control of the British Airports Authority (BAA), who were instrumental in making many positive changes, including considerable extensions during the mid-1980s. Particularly significant in the airport history was the arrival of Stansted's award-winning new terminal in 1991. Ambitious expansion plans are currently underway, with a view to increasing passenger levels at Stansted Airport (STN) to more than 35 million passengers each year.


Essential facilities at London Stansted Airport include a chapel, moneychangers, ATMs and baby changing rooms, as well as left luggage, lost property and excellent children's facilities. London Stansted also has good shopping options on both sides of security, with quality gifts available at stores such as Hamleys and Glorious Britain, along with a good selection of duty-free outlets in departures.

There is a child-free executive lounge at London Stansted Airport that is available to passengers flying on all airlines, and also Internet booths before and after security. For conference facilities, the nearby Enterprise House has a number of rooms available with excellent business facilities.