Stansted looks to India

It is understood that officials from Stansted Airports are in discussions with a number of Indian airlines.

The move could mean that the airport will be able to expand the services it offers to customers by enabling them to fly to India from Stansted, instead of having to travel to the busy airports of Heathrow or Gatwick.

At present, only an indirect flight with Turkish Airlines provides a route to India from Stansted, but officials are hopeful that this will soon change.

Stansted is looking to implement a second runway at the airport which will increase its capacity and bosses at the site are aiming to bring 76 million passengers through the airport by 2030.

"India, China and Oman and other Asian countries are on the radar," commented a spokesman for Stansted.

He added that it is likely that the new routes will be in place within the next ten years.