STANSTED’S ambitions of being a leading player in the long haul industry took a major blow this week, as the airport lost a contract to a major competitor.
AirAsia X has moved its six flights a week program for Kuala Lumpur to Gatwick, which was sold by owners BAA in 2009 for �1.5billion.
Stansted is due to be put up for sale after a ruling by the Competition Commission and interested buyers, including the Manchester Airport Group, have said that they would like to increase long-haul flying.
A spokesman for BAA at Stansted said: “Stansted Airport and AirAsia X have enjoyed a very successful relationship since the launch of the Kuala Lumpur service in March 2009 and we wish them all the best for the future.”
In the last year the AirAsia X flights carried 160,000 passengers – less than one per cent of Stansted’s total of 18.6 million.
WHAT does the future hold for Stansted? E-mail us at editor@saffronwalden-reporter.co.uk or write to us at 54 High Street, Saffron Walden, Essex, CB10 1EE.
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