The Essex airport expects 90,000 passengers to depart between 11–13 February, a stark contrast to the 2,000 who flew from the airport during the same weekend last year.

Friday, the day UK Covid travel testing restrictions are eased, is set to be the busiest day, when 31,000 passengers are expected to fly out. Over the full 10-day half-term period, Stansted will see 275,000 departing passengers and 220,000 arriving.

Winter sun destinations in Spain and ski resorts in France and Italy are the most popular routes.

Nick Millar, operations director, said: “Our advice to anyone flying out over this period is to leave plenty of time to get to the airport, check the entry requirements for the country you are visiting, including paperwork and testing requirements and familiarise yourselves with all the usual security rules when passing through the airport by visiting our website stanstedairport.com.”

Stansted has begun a major recruitment drive in advance of a predicted busy summer.

The airport is holding its first face-to-face Jobs Fair in more than two years on Wednesday (9 February) at the Hampton by Hilton hotel.

Among vacancies are 150 security officer roles plus “hundreds of jobs” with more than a dozen other companies operating at the airport.