The Civil Aviation Authority has awarded Stansted Airport, Code F status, which allows the world’s largest airliners such as the Airbus A380 and the new Boeing 747-8 to operate from the airport. The go-ahead opens the door for new airline growth for both passenger and cargo operations. Stansted has been named as Emirates' alternative airport for the A380 aircraft, if it is forced to divert. Stansted's commercial and development director, Nick Barton, said the status “…will make Stansted even more attractive to potential carriers - both passengers and cargo. It's credit to the original designers of Stansted who showed astonishing vision in the 1980s to create an airport capable of handling the superjets of the future. Code F status gives Stansted a competitive advantage as it sought to attract airlines from across the Middle and Far East, and the USA. Singapore Airlines, Qantas, Air France, Lufthansa and Emirates currently using the Airbus superjumbo but more airlines have them on order.
