Busiest Airports in The United Kingdom By Total Passenger Traffic - Future Airport Expansion

Future Airport Expansion

• London Heathrow – Terminal 5 opened on 27 March 2008, increasing the total passenger numbers potentially to over 90 million, possibly making Heathrow the world's busiest airport. However, serious delays and glitches remain. Plans for a third runway could increase aircraft movement dramatically and see over 115 million passengers using Heathrow annually. See also Future expansion and Expansion of London Heathrow Airport
• Manchester – Expansion of services and facilities at Manchester Airport estimates a usage by 50 million passengers in 2030, which is more than twice as many as the airport handles now.
• London Stansted – Plans for a second runway to increase capacity were shelved in 2010. Due to be sold by BAA in 2012 following Competition Commission ruling. See Stansted oroposed expansion for more.
• London Luton – Luton's usage has increased by around 900% between 1991 and 2006, however plans for another runway and new terminal were scrapped due to financial reasons. See Development plans and the future
• Birmingham – Birmingham Airport also has plans to expand, with a new terminal due for completion in 2012. See Birmingham Airport Future
• Leeds Bradford International Airport – In November 2008, Bridgepoint Capital announced a £28 million expansion of the current terminal building at Leeds Bradford International Airport, enabling the airport to handle in excess of 6 million passengers a year. The airport also intends to increase parking, the number of aircraft stands, and build a railway link towards Horsforth, enabling a link with Leeds railway station.
• Bournemouth Airport – A £45 million redevelopment by Manchester Airports group was announced in 2006 and began in 2008. The terminal building is to double in size, to replace the arrivals terminal, increase the number of stands/gates from 4 to 13 and to add more car parking spaces. Improvements to the local infrastructure, as well as the possibility of the construction of a new hotel are also included in the redevelopment phases.
• London Southend – Since its purchase by the Stobart Group in 2008, London Southend Airport has embarked on a massive programme of development including a 300 m runway extension, new terminal, railway station and hotel. EasyJet has commenced services from the airport in April 2012 with the anticipation that 700,000 passengers will be carried by easyJet alone in 2012.
• Other - Numerous UK airports are expanding to accommodate the new Airbus A380, and even the smaller airports such as Blackpool International are becoming larger and more popular due to demand.