Stansted Airport is celebrating its largest monthly increase in passenger numbers in more than eight years.

Over 1.8 million passengers flew via the Essex airport in September, a rise of 230,000, or 14%, compared to the same month last year.

The annual rate of growth at the UK’s fourth busiest airport has now risen to 8.4%, with more than 19 million passengers passing through Stansted in the last year, the highest total since mid-2010.

More than 1.6 million additional passengers have used Stansted since it was acquired by Manchester Airports Group (MAG) in February 2013.

Growth in September has been driven by the adding of new routes such to Larnaca, Dortmund, Athens and Dundee, increased frequencies offered by airlines on key routes such as Milan, Rome, Berlin and Dublin, and passenger initiatives such as Ryanair’s recently launched business product and family- friendly travel options, it said.

Managing director Andrew Harrison said it was a “clear sign” the airport was flourishing under its new owners, having passed the 18m passenger mark five months ago.

“It has been a very busy summer for the airport and this achievement is testimony to the hard work of everybody here at Stansted and the ongoing success of our airline partners.”