It got me thinking about the times I’ve flown there and the airlines flown on.
My first visit was by 747 from Prestwick. Yes way back on 30th August 1987 on Highland Express G-HIHO, no, not the seven dwarfs, but full of Refusenik Jews from New York!
The first time I’d ever flown on a Jumbo Jet even if just for an hours flight on a dash 100: I spent the day spotting at STN and Sunday nights were Scandinavian nights. Spanair, Conair, Sterling in abundance and plenty Swedish passengers swigging vodka like it was release from prohibition.
Over the years I’ve used Stansted,not necessarily as an airport of choice, but for transfers or where disruption has meant an alternative flight was given. Piper One will well remember one Saturday morning LHR which turned into Go to STN. Fly Stansted instead!
My first 737-600 flight was with Globespan to STN for a day return. Air Berlin provided Fokker 100 and 737s when connecting to onward flights to Nuremberg for a long weekend in lovely Lauf - well worth a visit and within striking distance for a day trip to Regensburg.
Air U.K. also provided flights on 146 and F100 then easyJet and also Ryanair the last visit with FR being an EDI departure before the route was ditched. To balance it out I went to STN in the early days of Ryanair launching their Glasgow route too.
A day visit to The World Travel Market - oh how I miss these days - was an experience and flights on EZY. I know Bill, our moderator, is a regular commuter on that route, or perhaps was until Covid kicked in and air travel was decimated.
One memorable trip should have been on Hapag Lloyd Express from LTN to CGN which became STN to CGN on Germanwings instead as HLX dropped the route before it launched. Cue a National Express from LTN to STN and see Beds, Herts and Essex from your coach. I have to say that Hitchin, Baldock and Hertford all look lovely and historic but not so the concrete people jungle of Stevenage!
So from LGW being my favourite and airport of choice in the BCal days, LHR took precedence in the original British Midland days, followed by MAN, before MAG turned it into a desolate barn, then LHR again with T5 being the icing on the cake.
