1984 – 2001


1984 –  After a public inquiry (1981-83) with 258 sitting days, Inspector Graham Eyre recommended that the application to increase capacity on Stansted’s single runway should be allowed only if Government guaranteed that throughput would never go beyond 25 million and that there would never be a second runway.

1985 –  Government unreservedly accepted Eyre’s recommendations and approval was given for Stansted to be developed up to 15 mppa, with a review at 8mppa.

1991 –  Stansted’s new terminal building, designed by Sir Norman Foster, was opened by The Queen.

1989-90 –  CAA advised Government that air traffic in the south east would double by 2005 and that another runway would be needed at one of ten locations including Stansted. Local consultation took place on two close parallel runway options for Stansted but these were universally rejected in view of the assurances given by Government in the 1985 White Paper.

1991-93 –  The ‘Runway Capacity To Serve The South East’ (RUCATSE) panel was formed to decide which of the options would be adopted. It rapidly became clear that the two close parallel options for Stansted were not feasible and, without further public consultation, RUCATSE proceeded to examine the two runway option which had been firmly rejected in the 1985 White Paper. RUCATSE dismissed the Stansted option for much the same reasons that the Graham Eyre Inquiry had identified and recorded that a new runway was not likely to be needed there before 2015.

1997 –  Kyoto Protocol set international targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, but excluded international aviation.

1997 –  Stansted handled 5 million passengers.

1999 –  Permission granted for 15 million passengers per annum at Stansted.

Dec 1999 –  Korean Airlines Boeing 747 crashed on take-off from Stansted into Hatfield Forest with the loss of four lives.

Feb 2000 –  Plane hijacked by Afghans landed at Stansted. Hostages held on board for several days.

2000 –  Stansted handled 12 million passengers.

Campaigning to ensure Stansted Airport's authorised operations stay below harmful limits