THE FIRST scheduled non-stop flight from Stansted to America will take off next Wednesday (May 2).

Continental Airlines is launching the new daily service and is confident there is a large untapped market for transatlantic travel at London's third airport.

The 172-seater Boeing 757s will leave daily at 9.30am and arrive at Newark Airport, New York, at 12.30pm the same day. Return flights leave Newark at 7pm and land at Stansted at 7.20am the next day.

There will be 156 seats in economy and 16 in the Business First cabin.

BAA Stansted managing directorJohn Stent said: "The airport is ready for transatlantic services and I know there will be a huge demand for this new link to New York.

"I have no doubt this service will succeed and very much hope it will be the first of many."

The move comes as Stansted continues its rapid growth.

The airport currently has an annual throughput of 12m passengers, but this is set to rise to 15m as part of the £200m expansion which began this year.

The number of passengers may eventually reach 25m, if plans for further enlargement are approved.

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