Stansted is uniquely placed to meet London’s growing aviation needs over the next 15 years, Stansted Airport’s managing director said today.

Speaking at the inaugural London Infrastructure Summit, Andrew Harrison explained that Stansted could more than double the amount of flights it handles, and that improving the rail service to Central London would be key to unlocking the airport’s full potential.

The summit, at Kings Place in London, was supported by the Mayor of London and focused on the importance of infrastructure to London’s overall competitiveness.

“Stansted is an important asset for London, and making the best possible use of its capacity should be an urgent priority for Government. The airport already has the infrastructure and planning permission to handle 35 million passengers a year, and the ability to handle a further 10 million passengers beyond that,” said Mr Harrison.

“Wherever the Airports Commission recommends a new runway, it is critical for Londoners that we grasp the opportunity in the intervening period to make the best possible use of Stansted.”

He added: “That is why the Commission saw rail improvements as an immediate priority for the Government to address. We believe there are practical solutions that could be implemented quickly to reduce journey times to London by more than ten minutes.

“These would make a big difference to passengers, airlines, commuters and the wider region.”

The theme for the event was infrastructure fit for a world city and the programme included panel sessions on key themes across London’s main infrastructure sectors, including: the overall vision and plan for London; funding and financing; lessons learned from major projects like Crossrail; the aviation debate; and how to build long-term consensus on future priorities for London.