London Stansted has maintained its position as the UK’s leading airport for public transport use, delegates at its annual transport forum heard.

East Anglian Daily Times: Jamie Burles, managing director of Greater Anglia.Jamie Burles, managing director of Greater Anglia. (Image: Archant)

Around 12.5m passengers a year now access public transport at Stansted – more than Luton, Birmingham, East Midlands and Manchester airports combined.

Stansted chief executive Ken O’Toole said: “In the last year alone, through our public transport levy, we have invested £100,000 into our partnership with Arriva to provide the next generation of energy efficient buses on key routes to Bishop’s Stortford and Harlow.

“We have also provided £150,000 to support the Airport Commuter Centre and travel card which has helped push the number of staff using public transport to around one third of the airport population.”

Jamie Burles, managing director of train operator Greater Anglia, added: “We’re pleased to be working in close partnership with Stansted Airport to encourage even more people to take the train to connect with their flights.

“Last year saw the Stansted Express achieve its highest-ever share of journeys to and from the airport with over 30% of travellers accessing the airport by train.

“Customer satisfaction with the Stansted Express is at 93% and during 2019/20 we will introduce brand new trains on the service, which will offer an even higher quality service with more seats and superfast wifi, to provide a further step change as the airport continues to thrive and passenger numbers increase still further.”

More than 150 delegates from local authorities, transport providers, airlines, businesses and industry gathered at the forum, which was held at the Radisson Blu Hotel, close to the airport’s main terminal.

Mr O’Toole and Stansted’s transformation director, Paul Willis, also provided updates on the airport’s five-year investment programme to transform airport facilities, the centrepiece being a new £130m arrivals terminal which will make Stansted the only UK airport to operate dedicated arrivals and departures terminals.