The main thing is that you are alright Sean. There are so many outlets now, it’s hard to know which one to follow.

S.B.

Sean starting this thread should be applauded. Your energy and passion for the subject is superb Sir.

However, if there is one small criticism, it is that it should have followed the natural meanderings of the similar Luton thread. It was far too rigid.

As someone who grew up in the village and spent far too much time at the airport in my formative years, (mid/late 1970's......much to the detriment of my O and A levels), I hope it gets a re-boot from Seans re-connection. I am sure there is plenty of untapped information still out there.....

Any former Stansted Aviation Society Members on here, who, like me, spent hours in that freezing portacabin next to the old terminal, drinking tea and watching the very rare arrivals and departures (Scandi Sunday aside)!?

KLM UK and Satellite 2 lounges
 

Recently passed through Stansted via satellite 2. Am I right in saying that KLM UK was once based here, along with their business class lounge where the Wetherspoon's Express Pub now is? Would love to see some photos of the KLM lounge if anyone has them!

Also, when American Airlines flew STN-JFK, hadn't they just built and opened up their own lounge in satellite 2 just prior to the service being cancelled in July 2008? Whereabouts was the lounge?

Having used it from those early 1990s times of the new terminal, what I recall was Satellite 2 being only used for domestic operations; AirUK had then quite a trunk operation to Glasgow/Edinburgh etc, and I believe Ryanair started there as well to Ireland (Common Travel Area). It was always connected by a high level walkway from the start, so more a pier than a Satellite. Inbound passengers just walked straight out along the terminal building periphery, where there was a baggage belt, I don't recall a route for passengers to immigration/customs - all the early international flights I took were from the "real" Satellite 1, accessed by the Transit.

The operation went through various name changes every few years, from Air UK, which slowly got absorbed by KLM, was rebadged KLMuk, then the non-Amsterdam routes were renamed again as Buzz, and finally that was sold off to Ryanair.

A very interesting read! :) Such as shame that KLM ceased flying to STN in the early 2000s once Buzz took over the AMS route :( Would love to see KLM (City Hopper) back at Stansted- back then, KLM UK offered 5-6 times daily to AMS with their own lounge in satellite 2, whereas these days EZY offer 1, max 2 daily rotations, how times have changed :/