London Stansted is gearing up to boost its long-haul network after installing a new £1.5million double airbridge.
The new bridge will provide two main deck entry points for wide-body aircraft, such Boeing 777s, and can be used to access the upper deck of Airbus A380s.
It joins the 11 single-door airbridges currently in operation at the airport.
Emirates, which resumed daily long-haul flights from Stansted to Dubai on Boeing 777-300ER aircraft earlier this summer, will be the first airline to use the new facility.
Stansted’s Operations Director, Nick Millar, said: “This investment marks a significant milestone in our recovery and is part of an ongoing programme of upgrades we’re making at the airport to enhance the customer experience.
“The brand-new airbridge will allow passengers travelling on wide-body aircraft like Emirates’ Boeing 777 to board and disembark more quickly and comfortably using two doors instead of one. We already have the capacity to handle all types of aircraft, but the new bridge will enhance our long-haul handling capabilities, future-proof our airfield infrastructure and improve performance for our passengers and airlines.”
The project, which took three months to complete, also included new fuel hydrants, underground cabling and modifications to the existing aircraft parking stand facilities.
The airport has also installed a new £70 million hold baggage system to speed up baggage delivery times and has carried out a £12 million refurbishment of its international departure lounge.
During the summer, Stansted passenger numbers reached 90% of pre-pandemic levels, with 2.6 million passengers using the terminal in August 2022, the busiest month since 2019.
