Published: 28/06/2010 09:00 - Updated: 28/06/2010 09:35

AIRPORT commercial and development director Nick Barton is on a mission to put Stansted on the world map.

In an exclusive interview, the man behind the hub’s route development explained why expansion remains his priority – regardless of BAA’s decision to withdraw plans for a second runway in the face of Government opposition.

Despite the current challenging economic climate, he remains convinced that full use of the existing runway – up from 22m to 35m passengers a year – is a realistic target and he is devoting at least 40 per cent of his working week to attracting new business.

Following the new coalition Government’s decision to block all new runways in the south east, Stansted remains the only one of London’s three airports with excess capacity ready and waiting to exploited.

“Stansted will get busier quicker (as a result) because the demand for international travel into London is almost insatiable,” said Mr Barton.

He said: “Stansted has some of the best aerospace infrastructure in Europe, if not the world, but Stansted has only been properly in existence since 1991 and there are many people – decision- makers –  who when they were learning their trade, they learned about Heathrow and Gatwick, so they don’t know what Stansted has to offer.

“Our mission is to make sure the world’s aviation decision-makers know about Stansted.”

As part of the renewed push to maximise traffic, BAA is waiting to finalise permission to handle the world’s largest Code F aircraft, such as the Airbus A380 and Boeing’s wide-bodied 747 800, so the airport is attractive to all carriers – both passenger and cargo.

While the prime slots from the existing runway have already been snapped up by the low-cost, point-to- point carriers like Ryanair and Easyjet, who both use Stansted as a base, Mr Barton is looking to lure those with bases on the Continent, like Whizz, to fill in the gaps.

The success of Air AsiaX and its route to Kuala Lumpur has opened up the Far East and Australia. The key to the service’s success is the network beyond both Stansted and the Malaysian capital, with passengers connecting from down under and travelling on to the European mainland.

That’s potential the BAA team are keen to exploit further.

Mr Barton said the ultimate aim was to make 10 per cent of airport’s traffic long-haul. Restoring the airport’s ill-fated links with the United States is a priority, as is establishing services to the Middle East.

He said events like the 2012 Olympics would be a further chance to showcase Stansted’s charms to an international market.

While BAA must return to court later this month to again argue why it should be allowed to keep Stansted as well as Heathrow, following the sale of Gatwick to satisfy the Competition Commission, Mr Barton stressed the issue of ownership had no impact on the push to find new business.

He said: “Our strategy is to grow the airport within the constraints of the single runway.  We can achieve 35m – that will be hard to do, but undoubtedly great fun.”