London’s Stansted Airport has completed the second phase of its £80m terminal expansion with the opening of 12 new cafes, bars and restaurants, creating 300 full-time and part-time jobs.
The airport stated that the expansion has resulted in a 70% increase in seating along with free Wi-Fi, charging points and flight countdown info screens.
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Speaking about the expansion, Manchester Airports Group (MAG) CEO Charlie Cornish said: "When MAG acquired Stansted we set a clear vision to transform the terminal and improve its facilites.
"Having returned the airport to growth and once again made it the fastest major growing airport in the UK with nearly 21 million passengers using the airport each year, and passenger numbers up 25% in March alone, the timing for this £80m investment in the terminal building couldn’t be timed better."
Some of the additions to the terminal are the first ever James Martin Kitchen, a bakery headed by the celebrity chef, a new Wetherspoons pub, Starbucks, Burger King, Pret A Manger and the first Harris+Hoole which is a growing high street coffee chain. These brands were selected out of the 70 tenders that the airport received.
MAG retail director Beth Brewster said: "When we set about announcing details of this major transformation to the retail industry we knew we were about to work on something of major significance but not even I anticipated the buzz of excitement it would create amongst the industry.
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By GlobalData"With many airport firsts, brand new concepts and the first celebrity chef appearance for Stansted this really has been an exciting development. It’s one I’m very proud to be part of and we look forward to announcing our partners for phase three of this multi million pound development in the not too distant future."
Image: The airport has created close to 300 new jobs as a result of the terminal transformation project. Photo: courtesy of The Manchester Airports Group.
