London Stansted Airport has opened a new double airbridge to boost its ability to handle long-haul aircraft.
The 1.5 million GBP double airbridge is the first of its kind at Stansted. It joins the 11 single-door airbridges currently in operation at the airport.
Unlike the single-door units, the new double airbridge provides two main deck entry points for wide-body aircraft, such as Boeing 777s. In addition, it can also be used to access the upper deck of Airbus A380s.
This addition will improve the passenger experience, while also making aircraft turnaround times more efficient for airlines.
London Stansted’s Operations Director, Nick Millar, said:This investment marks a significant milestone in our recovery and is part of an ongoing programme of upgrades we're making at the airport to enhance the customer experience. The brand-new airbridge will allow passengers travelling on wide-body aircraft like Emirates’ Boeing 777 to board and disembark more quickly and comfortably using two doors instead of one. We already have the capacity to handle all types of aircraft, but the new bridge will enhance our long-haul handling capabilities, future-proof our airfield infrastructure and improve performance for our passengers and airlines.
The project took three months to complete and also included the addition of new fuel hydrants, underground cabling and modifications to existing aircraft parking stand facilities.
Since the pandemic, Stansted has invested in improving several facilities at the airport, including a new 70 million GBP hold baggage system that will speed up baggage delivery times, and a 12 million GBP refurbishment of the international departure lounge.
