A new coach service has been launched linking Stansted Airport to West London.

Orbis Air Link is to offer a 24-hour coach service, operating every two hours, connecting Stansted with the underground stations of Hammersmith, Acton and Ealing Broadway.

Orbis Air Link also provides a regular connection between Luton Airport and West London. Bookings can be made on-line, by telephone or through a network of travel agents.

For up-to-date Stansted airport information and to book Stansted airport parking using an online parking price checker click on the links.

Ouch, it seems that credit crunch is beginning to bite at BA’s UK airports.

Figures just released show that overall the airports handled a total of 13.3 million passengers in September – a decrease of 5% when compared with September 2007.

The largest drop in passenger traffic was at Glasgow Airport where passenger numbers fell by 11% compared with September 2007. This huge reduction was largely down to the collapse of XL and Zoom. BAA’s other Scottish airports both reported a fall in numbers: Aberdeen Airport down 4.2% and Edinburgh Airport down 2.9%.

Of BAA’s English airports, Stansted saw passenger numbers drop by 4.7%, Southampton airport down 4% and Heathrow airport saw a decrease of 3.6%. Gatwick airport reported an overall drop of 6.8% resulting from a 44% decrease in  North Atlantic traffic and an increase of 8.8% in European scheduled traffic - attributed to the introduction of the ‘Open Skies’ agreement.

The Government has today given the go ahead for an expansion of passenger numbers and flight movements at Stansted Airport, based on a single runway.

The cap on passenger numbers has been raised from 25 million passengers per annum to 35 million.

Air traffic movements can be increased to 264,000 from the current 241,000.

Reacting to the news, Stansted’s managing director, Stewart Wingate, said: “We are naturally delighted that the Secretaries of State have granted permission for the next phase of growth at Stansted. This secures our future up to 35 million passengers a year. We will now be studying the full detail of the decision, including the independent Planning Inspector’s report before commenting further. What we can say today though is that this is clearly great news for passengers and for businesses, located in the local community or across the wider region.”

The current restrictions were imposed by Uttlesford District Council (UDC) in 2003.

History:

• BAA Stansted submitted a planning application to Uttlesford District Council (UDC) on 26 April 2006 asking permission to remove the 25 million a year cap on passenger numbers, and to increase the limit on air transport movements (ATMs) to 264,000 a year. (Stansted is the only UK airport to have a passenger number  cap)
• UDC refused the application on 29 November, 2006, and BAA Stansted appealed the decision on 30 November, 2006
• An independent public inquiry was held from 30 May to 19 October, 2007

The approved planning application relates to growth on Stansted’s existing single runway, and is entirely separate to the application for the second runway development which was submitted in March 2008.

For an instant online Stansted airport parking price checker or to book a Stansted airport taxi transfer click on the links.

Stansted Express services will be affected by planned engineering works this weekend, a replacement bus service will be operating between Stansted Airport and London Liverpool Street Station on Sunday 5 October.

Passengers are advised to leave extra time for travel to the airport.

For an instant online Stansted airport parking price checker or to book a Stansted airport taxi transfer click on the links.

Titan Airways, the London Stansted-based VIP charter specialist, is celebrating its 20th Anniversary this year. Founded by Managing Director Gene Willson in 1988, the airline has witnessed phenomenal changes within the aviation industry over the past two decades and despite adversity within the sector, Titan has continued to grow and succeed.

“I am extremely proud of Titan Airways and of everything the dedicated Titan team has achieved over the past 20 years,” said Gene Willson. “We continue to provide a first class service and look forward to even more exciting times ahead with our plans for further fleet expansion.”

To mark its 20th anniversary, Titan Airways has announced the addition of two new aircraft to its fleet for 2009. Arriving in May 2009 is a Boeing 737-800 bringing new generation aviation technology to the Titan fleet. The aircraft will be configured with 189 leather seats and includes an inflight entertainment system. The 737-800 offers maximum gross weight and aircraft engine thrust and is ETOPs capable. The aircraft will be just five years old when it joins the Titan fleet and is being leased from CIT Aerospace over an eight year period.

In December 2009, Titan will take delivery of a Boeing 767-300 ER from GECAS Leasing. The aircraft has been signed for a seven year lease and again, will be only five years old when it joins the Titan fleet. With just 265 leather seats in a 2/3/2 configuration, this is the first wide-body aircraft in the Titan fleet offering long haul capability with a maximum range of approximately 6,000nm. The 767-300 is also ETOPs capable. Both new aircraft will sport full Titan Airways livery representing an image of Saturn’s moon, “Titan”.

“Our aim is to continually modernise our fleet as part of our ongoing strategy over the next few years,” said Alastair Kiernan, Titan Airway’s Commercial Director. “We are constantly striving to maintain our high standards of operation and part of this is ensuring our passengers fly in the most advanced aircraft.”

Titan Airways originally consisted of just two people and has grown to its current size of 220 staff, mainly based at Stansted airport, operating 24/7, 365 days a year.

During the past 20 years Titan has flown many household names with clients including cruise lines, rock and pop groups including the Rolling Stones, blue chip organisations, finance houses, tour operators and major car companies such as Porsche, Mercedes and Audi.

Stansted Airport is gearing itself up for a busy summer by advising passengers to check the current baggage security restrictions before arriving at the airport and to allow plenty of time to travel to the airport.

“Restrictions on carrying liquids and sharp items remain in place at all UK airports, so we ask all our passengers to take a few minutes to familiarise themselves with the security measures. This will save them time at the airport and should ensure they get their holiday off to a flying start,” said Nick Cole, Stansted’s head of terminal.

“This is traditionally one of the busiest times of the year and we would advise passengers to arrive at least 2 hours before their flight is due to depart, keep hand luggage to a minimum, and go through security as soon as they have checked in.

“No sharp items, such as knives and scissors, are permitted in hand luggage, and passengers can carry only liquids through security that are in containers less than 100ml and presented in a clear, re-sealable plastic bag - these are provided free of charge at the airport.”

Stansted Airport is also advising passengers:

• To carry one bag per passenger and to check their airline’s hand luggage restrictions
• To allow plenty of time to get to the airport and arrive two hours before flight departure time
• Once checked-in go straight to security
• Keep luggage with you at all times and never carry anything on someone else’s behalf
• If using check for any timetable changes before travelling.

For up-to-date Stansted airport information and to book Stansted airport parking using an online parking price checker click on the links.

Ryanair is again cutting capacity at Stansted Airport this winter.

The airline, which had 38 aircraft based at the airport last winter, will reduce aircraft numbers to 28 and reduce the number of weekly flights to just under 1600 – a 14% reduction, or 900,000 passengers on last year.

While other airlines are blaming the increasing cost of fuel for service cutbacks, Ryanair claims a combination of factors has contributed to their decision namely:

1. London Stansted is the most expensive of Ryanair’s 28 bases.
2. The BAA Airport monopoly has again increased airport charges by 15% this year, on top of a 100% increase last year.
3. The total failure of the inadequate CAA regulatory regime to control these unjustified cost increases or to persuade BAA Stansted to meet the needs of its low fare airline users.
4. The fact that oil prices have risen to $140 a barrel.

For up-to-date Stansted airport information and to book Stansted airport parking or Stansted taxi transfers click on the links.

Overnight resurfacing work on the M11 near Cambridge may affect passengers travelling to Stansted Airport.

Work starts on Monday 7 July and is due to be completed at 6am on Thursday 31 July. The work will require the full overnight closure of the motorway, in one direction at a time, between J10 and J12. There will be no weekend working and no work during the week 21 to 25 July.

The M11 northbound carriageway will be closed for 10 nights from Monday 7 July, with work due for completion by 6am on Saturday 19 July. In addition, there will be a lane 1 closure of the A603 westbound carriageway where it joins with the M11 at J12. This is to allow works to be safely carried out on the M11 exit slip road.

The M11 southbound carriageway will be closed for three nights from Monday, 28 July, with work scheduled for completion by 6am on Thursday, 31 July.

Fully signed diversion routes will be in place: northbound traffic will be diverted via the A505, A1198 and the A603, to rejoin the motorway at J12; southbound traffic will follow the diversion in reverse, rejoining at J10.

Passengers travelling on this section of the motorway are advised to allow plenty of extra time for their journey.

For maps and directions to Stansted Airport or to check out Stansted Airport public transport options click on the links.

Phase one of Stansted airport’s new £50 million terminal extension has opened.

The extension provides nearly 6,000 square metres of additional space for arriving passengers, including a sixth baggage reclaim belt and extra desk space for immigration control managed by the UK Border Agency.

Due to be opened by December 2008 are new shops, more comfortable waiting areas for friends and relatives and new transport facilities for those requiring onward travel by bus, coach, train or taxi transfers from Stansted.

To emphasise the commitment of Stansted to reducing the environmental impacts of developments and day-to-day operations, the new extension will be carbon neutral following installation of a state of the art biomass heating boiler, one of the biggest ever seen in commercial use in the UK. An initiative recognised by DEFRA who awarded a grant of around £250,000 under its prestigious Bio Energy Capital Grants Scheme in July 2007.

BAA’s new Chief Executive, Colin Matthews, addressed more than 200 guests at Stansted Airport’s summer reception held last week at Duxford Imperial War Museum.

In a keynote speech to business leaders, council and airline representatives he pledged to deliver additional runway capacity at Stansted.

“This is an ideal opportunity to share with you two of the top priorities I have set for BAA,” said Mr Matthews. “First for us, is to achieve consistent high standards of customer service – and that means to our airline customers as well as travellers. I am determined to deliver continuous improvement in standards across all service areas. And that applies to Stansted as much as it does to Heathrow and elsewhere.

“Second, is to demonstrate my commitment and that of BAA to the delivery of additional runway capacity to meet future demand for UK air travel – and that includes a second runway at Stansted.

“The project will bring significant benefits to the East of England and to the UK as a whole, and over 13,000 new jobs will be created. The development will support plans for regional