The UK Government’s Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling MP has officially opened London Luton Airport’s (LLA) newly-upgraded terminal, marking the culmination of LLA’s three-year transformation project.
The £160 million redevelopment has been the biggest in the airport’s 80-year history and focused on making passengers’ journeys easier, quicker and more enjoyable, with significant improvements being made in the terminal and to the ways in which people get to and from the airport.
The transformation of the airport will increase its annual capacity by 50 per cent to 18 million passengers by 2020. Since the work began passenger numbers have increased 35 per cent, making LLA London’s fastest growing airport, with more than 16.5 million passengers expected to fly in 2018, an increase of five per cent on 2017.
Grayling said: “London Luton’s investment firmly puts passengers at the heart of development and will improve the experience of those using the airport for business or holidays.
“Supporting thriving airports like London Luton will form a part of the Government’s Aviation 2050 consultation, ensuring the benefits of transformation are felt across the local area.”
LLA chief executive officer, Nick Barton said: “2018 has been a milestone year for LLA. We celebrated our 80th anniversary in the summer and now we have completed our three-year transformation which brings a host of benefits to passengers.
“This is a new era for LLA. We are the fastest-growing major London airport and are now in a position to play an increasingly important role in the UK’s aviation network.”
The transformation features 30 retail stores, over 1,000 more seats and free Wi-Fi, a new boarding pier, with eight additional boarding gates, an expanded security search area and a new dual carriageway, bus interchange and multi-storey car park.
easyJet CEO, Johan Lundgren said: “As the largest airline operating to and from London Luton Airport, we are excited that the airport’s transformation will benefit the seven million easyJet customers who use the airport every year. This transformation project was a key factor in our commitment to long term growth at the airport, so it’s great to see its completion.”
