Two members of Labour’s shadow transport team have visited London Stansted to view the airport’s plans for making further use of its runway capacity.
Shadow Transport Secretary Andy McDonald MP and Shadow Aviation Minister Karl Turner MP were also briefed on airport owner MAG’s case for cutting journey times and improving reliability on rail services between London Liverpool Street and Stansted.
Mr McDonald said: “Following the decision to leave the EU, supporting UK aviation has become more, not less, critical if the UK is to remain a global, outward-looking trading nation.
“Improving surface access to and utilising capacity of airports like Stansted is an important part of delivering an aviation strategy that will support our economy.”
Mr Turner added: “The national conversation on aviation centres on the issue of building a third runway at Heathrow but we face capacity challenges here and now.
“More needs to be done to support connectivity into and out of our other international gateway airports across the UK to unlock existing unused capacity, and develop the huge potential they have.”
Brad Miller, London Stansted’s chief operating officer, said: “We were delighted the shadow transport team was able to join us at Stansted and discuss our plans for growing passenger numbers, our £600m investment programme to transform the airport and our ambitions for a more reliable and faster rail service.”
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