Stansted Airport, London's Other Airport

With London hosting the Olympics in 2012 planners are preparing for an influx of visitors from all over the world, First impressions with any big event go a long way and London already known for its congestion will go all out to lessen the burden by modernizing its infrastructure and collectively incorporate security and people flow into one seamless operation; hardly visible, but action ready at a moments notice.

Before the throngs descend on the city they have to get to London. London Heathrow and London Gatwick airports may seem the obvious choice but Stansted Airport to the north of London may be getting ready to take on the role of extra player and give needed relief. Stansted is the third largest airport in the United Kingdom.

Stansted airport has been operational since 1942. In May 2006, the British Airport Authority (BAA) presented a master plan to the government for consideration citing the underutilization of its one and only runway. Since then the BAA has battled with local government, environmentalists and lawmakers in their push for expansion and growth.

On October 9, 2008, Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon announced that the government has given the green light to the planned expansion. The BAA said the improvements will increase passenger loads from 25 million to 35 million a year and departing flights from 241,000 to 264,000. Stansted's managing director, Stewart Wingate said, "We are naturally delighted...this decision secures our future and allows us to plan ahead with certainty."

Graham Thompson an activist with the protest group, Plane Stupid said Geoff Hoon was not working in the best interest of Britain. He went on to say, "Our democratic checks and balances are failing and escalating direct action is now inevitable."

The plan also calls for a second runway and in a written a statement the BAA said a public inquiry into this will be held next year. The BAA would not comment if today's announcement has any link to the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) the body that is overseeing the construction of facilities and infrastructure for the 2012 games.

Can it be a coincidence that the plans for expansion submitted in May 2006, came almost a year after July 2^nd 2005 when London beat out Paris to win the bid?

According to the ODA there are 7. 7 million tickets to go on sale for all the main events and an extra 1.5 million for the following Paralympics. Gatwick and Heathrow will be bursting at the seams and it will be up to Stanstead to trim the fat. Well wasn't that the plan from the get- go?