Coping with COVID at Stansted

The coronavirus pandemic has affected airports worldwide. Stephen Skinner looks at the impact on London Stansted Airport, which was the third busiest in the UK by aircraft movements in 2019, but has been badly affected by restrictions on holiday travel

Like all airports in 2020, London Stansted has introduced and enforces strict COVID-19 measures. All staff and passengers must keep their faces covered throughout the terminal and are not permitted to fly if their face is uncovered, and additional hand sanitising stations have been installed throughout the terminals. Stansted is also trialling the use of temperature screening technology on the entry to security.

There is an enhanced cleaning regime in place throughout the airport, and protective screens have been installed at various locations throughout the terminal, including check-in desks and security. It is also trialling the use of UV technology on some of its escalators to keep the handrails as clean as possible.

Main photo: As flight restrictions increased, space for grounded aircraft was at a premium. By mid-June 2020, when this photo was taken, more than 50 Ryanair 737s were parked at Stansted, along with other airliners 

Andy Amor

IMPACT ON AIRLINES