Cargo tonnage through London Stansted Airport rose by 4.4 per cent year on year in July, to 20,732 tonnes.

This growth means that 233,239 tonnes have been shipped through Stansted in the last year, an increase of 9.4 per cent on the previous 12 months.

July’s results were helped by the addition of flights by carriers keen to ease the supply chain problems caused by the backlog at the Channel Tunnel, the airport says.

“It’s great to see a growing airport and over the last few months we have been growing at double the rate of Heathrow [Airport] and Gatwick [Airport]. It’s a real boost for the airport and it’s a great reflection on the East of England region and its economic vibrancy,” says the airport’s managing director, Andrew Harrison.

Stansted is undergoing a £260 million ($405.3 million) investment programme to improve airport facilities and services.

In the final report of the UK government’s Airports Commission, one recommendation was that Stansted be considered for a future runway after a proposed third runway for Heathrow Airport became operational by 2030.