Stansted Withdraw Runway Plans

24 May 2010, 17:00 | Updated: 28 May 2010, 12:30

Stansted Airport operator BAA is withdrawing their application to build a second runway at the Essex terminal.

A second runway was supported by the Labour government in its 2003 aviation White Paper and at one point it was hoped that it could be completed by 2013.

But the plans faced problems in the planning stage and the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats announced in their manifestos that they would stop the scheme.

Stansted's managing director David Johnston said: "We have reflected carefully on the new Government's clear intention to change airports policy and have moved quickly to withdraw this application.

"Stansted is a key driver of economic growth in this part of England, and we will continue to work hard to bring new business here and to work with our neighbours, and the wider community, to provide jobs and strong business and
travel opportunities in the months and years ahead.

"We continue to believe that new airport capacity is needed in the south east of England to strengthen the UK's international trading links.''