Passengers hoping for a simpler journey to two of London's major airports have been dealt a disappointment. The long-awaited introduction of contactless tap-in tap-out payments for travel to Stansted and Southend airports has been postponed.
What's Been Delayed and Why?
The train operator Greater Anglia announced on Wednesday 3 December 2025 that part of its contactless rollout is being pushed back. Stansted and Southend airports were due to join the network on 14 December 2025, alongside 48 other stations in the Southeast. While 30 stations, including Stevenage, Luton, Oxted, and Reigate, will still get the technology next week, the remaining 20 locations must wait.
The delay stems from technical problems discovered during testing. Greater Anglia stated that issues arose which could have affected the price paid by passengers and stopped the system from working correctly. For the contactless readers to function properly, the fares must be fully integrated into Transport for London's (TfL) complex fare system, a process that has not been completed in time.
Frustration for Airport Travellers
This setback means travellers to Stansted and Southend must continue to book their journeys online or at a ticket machine for the foreseeable future. The absence of contactless has been a particular pain point at Stansted, where passengers unfamiliar with the rules have faced penalty fares of up to £100 for incorrectly assuming they could tap with a card or phone on the Stansted Express, as they can across most of London's transport network.
Martin Beable, Greater Anglia's Managing Director, apologised for the frustration. "I am very sorry for the disappointment this will cause some of our customers," he said. "It is essential, however, that contactless ticketing works reliably from day one."
New Timeline and Commitment
The operator has now committed to introducing the payment method across the delayed stations, including the two airports, by summer 2026. "Our teams are working closely with our partners to complete this work as quickly as possible," Beable added, emphasising that "additional work is required to ensure this integration is seamless and delivers a reliable experience for customers."
This delay leaves Stansted and Southend lagging behind other London airports like Heathrow, Gatwick, and London City, where contactless pay-as-you-go has been available for some time.
