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Stansted comes close to reaching record high
Stansted has seen an 8.4% rise in traffic this year, but its total passenger numbers are still slightly below the number handled nine years ago.
In the 12 months to September, a total of 24,009,348 passengers used the airport, 6,000 fewer than the 12-month high set in October 2007.
During September, nearly 2.2 million passengers passed through Stansted, up 7% on the same month last year and the second busiest September ever for Stansted.
It said growth continued to be driven by high load factors with 88.5% of all available seats occupied on each flight.
Stansted CEO, Andrew Cowan, said: "Stansted Airport has enjoyed a period of rapid and sustained growth in passenger numbers under the ownership of MAG and through long-term deals with key carriers such as Ryanair.
"This month saw us pass yet another significant milestone as we broke through the 24 million passengers a year total for only the second time in the airport’s history.
"September was once again a strong month of passenger growth, despite the end of the traditional school holiday getaway, with volumes up nearly seven per cent over the same month last year.
"This helped push the annual total tantalisingly close to Stansted’s all-time passenger high, a record I’m sure we will pass during this month."
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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