Moves to boost Stansted Airport could bring a further 10,500 jobs to the region over the next 10 to 15 years, its new owners have said.

There could also be further new jobs created in businesses that supply the airport during that time.

The airport has linked up with business leaders across the region and north London to urge the Airports Commission to allow it to expand its business between now and 2030.

It has two main calls: a planning limit lifted so it can expand to take double its current passenger numbers and it wants major improvements to the rail network linking Stansted with London, Cambridge and the midlands.

The letter says: “The airport is a significant economic asset and we were encouraged to see the Airports Commission set out a number of specific recommendations in the Interim Report to ensure the best use is made of the existing capacity at Stansted.

“With any new runway likely to be at least 10-15 years away, we believe that exploring and delivering on these measures in the intervening years to unlock the potential of the existing infrastructure should be seen as an immediate priority

for the Commission and for Government.”

The commission, under the chairmanship of Sir Howard Davies, is looking at airport provision in the south east of England and is balancing the needs of a new runway for either Heathrow or Gatwick.

A new runway for Stansted is not currently on the cards.

The letter comes just days after Stansted managing director Andrew Harrison called for more investment in rail links to the airport.

He said: “Network Rail clearly recognises the need to improve services to Stansted but its proposals lack the ambition and vision needed to deliver significantly faster services for airport users and commuters.

Currently Stansted handles just under 20 million passengers a year. It is currently limited to handling 35 million passengers a year by its planning permission – but it wants to be reach its capacity on the single runway which is 40 to 45 million a year.