More than one million passengers are expected to travel through London Stansted over the upcoming half-term getaway, including football fans heading to Europe for two major finals.
The Bank Holiday weekend is expected to be the airport’s busiest period, with around 400,000 passengers forecast to fly in and out.
Alongside families heading off for spring sunshine and city breaks, and with strong inbound demand from overseas visitors to the UK, supporters will also be travelling to Germany and Hungary for two European football finals.
Serving more than 200 destinations across Europe, London Stansted offers fans plenty of choice whether travelling direct or via more creative routes.
Crystal Palace fans will be heading to Leipzig for the UEFA Conference League Final on 27 May, where they face Rayo Vallecano. While Leipzig is not served directly from Stansted, supporters are flying into Berlin or Nuremberg before continuing by rail or road.
Just three days later, Arsenal take on Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League Final in Budapest. Ryanair operates direct services from Stansted, while passengers are also travelling via destinations such as Vienna in Austria, and Bratislava and Kosice in Slovakia, all of which offer onward connections to the Hungarian capital.
Ahead of the busy half-term period, the airport is also sharing important travel advice with passengers.
The airport’s enlarged security hall is now fully operational, featuring next-generation scanners, meaning passengers no longer need to remove liquids or large electronics from their bags.
Travellers are also being advised to allow plenty of time for their journey and to prepare for security in advance. Anyone who hasn’t already booked parking is encouraged to do so via the official airport website or well-established comparison sites to ensure they secure safe, on-site services.
Jonathan Fowler, Chief Operating Officer at London Stansted Airport, said:
“Half-term is always a popular time for passengers to get away, with warmer weather across much of Europe and destinations generally quieter than during the peak summer months. This year there’s an extra buzz around the terminal, with thousands of football fans expected to travel for two major finals, adding to what is already shaping up to be a very busy week at the airport. We’re looking forward to welcoming everyone travelling over the period and would encourage passengers to allow plenty of time for their journey and to prepare for security in advance to help make their experience as smooth and easy as possible.”
