Overview

• The new facility is now operational as part of a £1.1 billion redevelopment that will expand the main terminal by 40 percent over the next three to four years.
• Badenoch and airport managing director Gareth Powell led the ribbon-cutting ceremony and met operations, security and customer-service teams in her North West Essex constituency.
• The Conservative leader described Stansted as critical for regional employment and post-pandemic recovery, recalling how workers turned to her for support during Covid-19 job losses.
• She said she would balance residents’ complaints about noise, night flights and traffic congestion with the wider economic benefits the airport delivers.
• At the event Badenoch criticized Labour’s net zero 2050 strategy, warning that higher air passenger duty and aviation decarbonisation costs will raise holiday prices and deepen reliance on China.