AIR travel has become a fact of life and despite the current financial squeeze, people have not abandoned trips on budget airlines.

Figures released last month show that Stansted Airport generated nearly £200 million income in the first nine months of 2008.

After operating costs, its profits was £52 million.

This is a £14 million drop on the same period in 2007 but that can be put down to “challenging” trading conditions and BAA’s investment in its airports, according to BAA’s chief executive Colin Matthews.

As a business, the airport is doing well.

Although its dream of a second runway has yet to be realised – a public inquiry is due to begin in April next year – it has already been given permission to increase passenger numbers.

Mr Matthews is concerned that the recent Competition Commission’s call for BAA to sell off Stansted and Edinburgh airports in addition to Gatwick, which is already on the market, would delay the introduction of new runways.

He said: “We do not believe it (the Competition Commission) has set out compelling evidence to support its views that selling Stansted, as well as Gatwick, will increase competition.”

After a £50 million investment in an extension of the arrivals area, which includes a new baggage reclaim, shops and concourse, Stansted was given the green light to attract up to 35 million passengers and increase flights from 241,000 to 264,000.

Ashley Riley, the new head of communications and public affairs, explained that to offer customers and the 180 businesses based at the airport, what they want, Stansted must evolve.

“The status quo is not an option,” said Mr Riley.

“Airlines will want to fly outside of Europe and to fly from airports that are going to expand.

“Air Asia X, which will fly from Stansted to Malaysia, was interested in us because we were expanding.

“We have to show that vision to offer more choice and that will bring us more business.”

Mr Riley explained that while European businesspeople choose to hold meetings at venues around Stansted because it is well connected to destinations around the continent, there are many businesses waiting for the airport to expand so it can open an office in the east of England.

It is the reason organisations, including the Essex Chambers of Commerce, strongly support the G2 project for the second runway.

That vision includes a second runway, which will be the subject of a public inquiry from April 2009.

If it is given the go-ahead, it will bring 13,000 new jobs, doubling the number already working there, as well as 3,000 apprenticeships.

Protesters have been vocal in their opposition but Mr Riley, who said Stansted is keen to listen to the community, explained that BAA must adhere to 70 environmental conditions if the second runway is to happen.

These include ensuring carbon dioxide emissions do not exceed those in 2006, having on-site renewable energy, such as ground source heat pumps and solar panels, with 70 per cent to be recycled or re-used, and encourage 50 per cent of passengers to use public transport by 2030.

Stansted is almost there on this final condition as 44 per cent of passengers already use public transport to get to Stansted – more than any other UK airport and a leader in Europe.

While Mr Riley said BAA Stansted is keen to be a good member of the community – it also donates money to various charities in the area – it is a business.

Mr Riley said: “At the end of the day, BAA is a private business so there is a responsibility to its shareholders to make a profit.

“We need people to use it and give them the best experience they can have.

“We do that by providing what we think is one of the best airports in the world, otherwise people will want to fly from other places.

“It’s basic retail at the end of the day. People will go somewhere else because they have that option.”

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