STANSTED Airport’s ambition to raise its global profile has received a major boost after gaining approval to handle the world’s largest airliners.

STANSTED Airport’s ambition to raise its global profile has received a major boost after gaining approval to handle the world’s largest airliners.

The Civil Aviation Authority has awarded the UK’s third busiest airport Code F status, which now allows aircraft such as the Airbus A380 and the

new Boeing 747-8 to operate from the airport.

The official go-ahead, which follows months of work to demonstrate the airport’s operational readiness to handle these aircraft, now opens the door for new airline growth for both passenger and cargo operations.

An immediate benefit has seen Stansted named as Emirates’ alternative airport for their A380 aircraft, if they are forced to divert as a precaution or if the destination airport is unavailable.

Stansted’s commercial and development director, Nick Barton, who along with the airport’s managing director, David Johnson, recently visited a number of the Middle East’s largest airlines who use or plan to use the A380, said: “We’re delighted to have won permission to handle the world’s biggest Code F aircraft, an achievement that will make Stansted even more attractive to potential carriers - both passengers and cargo. It’s credit to the original designers of Stansted who showed astonishing vision in the 1980s to create an airport capable of handling the superjets of the future.

“Our mission is to make sure the world’s aviation decision makers know all about the excellent, modern facilities we have on offer here at Stansted. Gaining Code F status gives us a competitive advantage as we focus our work and energy towards airlines from across the Middle and Far East, and the USA.

“We have the drive, ambition and desire to succeed, and we are very confident we can achieve our aim of making Stansted the London airport of choice in the years ahead.”

Singapore Airlines, Qantas, Air France, Lufthansa and Emirates are the five airlines currently using the Airbus superjumbo but many more airlines have them on order.

Matthew Knowles, spokesman for ADS the UK’s Aerospace, Defence and Security trade organisation, explained some of the environmental benefits of the new generation of aircraft.

“The Airbus A380 is more fuel efficient than a hybrid car and produces less perceived noise at take off than that experienced by a passenger inside a London Underground Train. Furthermore, half of the aircraft, when fitted with Rolls- Royce engines alongside other major contributions from British firms, is made in the UK,” said Mr Knowles.