27
July
2023
|
15:16
Europe/Amsterdam

Picture gallery: Runway celebrates 80 years

Over the last 80 years, Stansted Airport has transformed from a US Air Force base to a major international airport.

George Washington Field, as it was known then, officially opened in 1943 and played a significant role in the war effort.

Fast forward to today, it is now home to many leading airlines, including Ryanair, Jet2.com and Emirates which fly to more than 200 destinations in Europe and the Middle East.

Here are some of the photographs from our rich and diverse history.

London Stansted began life as a American Airforce Second World War base in 1943.
The airfield was home to the USAAF Eighth Air Force.
B-26 Marauders were based at Stansted during WWII. Here are two preparing to take off.
Aerial shot of the RAF Stansted Mountfitchet in 1947.
At the end of the war, the base was handed back to the Civil Aviation Authority and became home to many of Britain’s charter airlines.
The first jets arrived in the early 60s
Aerial photo of the airfield from the late sixties.
A new terminal was built in 1969.
A busy baggage hall in the seventies.
The terminal in 1978.
Inside the departure lounge in 1980.
On 5 June 1983, the shuttle touched down at the airport as part of a European tour. Crowds of 200,000 people turned out to watch.
A Flying Tigers 747 freighter is pictured at Stansted in 1983. Today over 250,000 is shipped through the airport a year.
Space Shuttle visit in 1983.
The airport has been the backdrop to many blockbuster films and TV shows. Dustin Hoffman filming Last Chance Harvey in 2008
Only Fools and Horses used Stansted as a backdrop in the 80s.
The departure lounge included an outside seating area.
Stansted's new terminal buliding taking shape 1989.
In 1991, The Queen opened the £400m new terminal, aprons and taxiways at Stansted, which increased the airport's capacity from two to eight million.
From 1997 to 2007, Stansted saw rapid growth of passenger numbers on the back of the boom in low cost air travel.
In 2012, Olympic fever hit when a London 2012 shop in the terminal. Many athletes and fans used the airport to get to the games.
Since 2008, the US President has used Stansted for visits to the UK.
Aerial photo of the airport today.
2016 - £80 million transformation delivered a new departure lounge, award winning bars, restaurants and new executive lounge
2017 - Jet2 launch news STN base
2018 - US President Trump arrival for state visit to the UK
2018 - Emirates started direct flights to Dubai from Stansted in June 2018. The airport's first daily service to the UAE.
Developing future talent. The airport has teamed up with Harlow College and opened the UK’s first aviation skills college in 2018.
2019 - a record 28 million passengers used Stansted
2019 - First airport to recycle used coffee in Biofuels
2019 - New check in area opens as part of transformation project
2020 - Cargo centre plays important role during coronavirus pandemic
Permission to handle 43 million passengers a year granted in 2021
2022 - Love Island Winners returning
2022 - 20,000 Aerozone visitors
Resurfacing of the runway completed in 2023
Terminal extension proposal - 2023
Artist's impression of proposed extension to London Stansted's terminal building