London Luton passenger figures soar as redevelopment unfolds

As the redevelopment plan for London Luton Airport (LLA) continues, passenger numbers hit record figures.

LLA is currently investing £100 million to meet rapidly growing passenger demand, as 1.2 million passengers chose to use the airport in September. This marked a 19.2 percent increase from September 2014 and 18 months’ of consecutive growth at the airport. The investment will transform the airport’s annual capacity from 12 million to 18 million by 2026 and also deliver major upgrades to the airport’s facilities.

In order to handle the continual rise of passenger numbers, London Luton Airport opened an enlarged security system on 8th September 2015. The security area has been relocated to the ground floor, alongside the latest screening technology. This has increased the speed and ease of the security system, resulting in an improved passenger experience.

September also saw the redevelopment plan take a major step forward, as Whitemountain, part of the Lagan group, was announced as the first construction contractor. Whitemountain has already begun work on the site and will manage the construction and civil engineering of landside infrastructure and transport facilities. This will see the existing approach road to the terminal building turned into a dual carriageway, the redevelopment of the short stay car parks and on-airport road network, the remodelling of the set-down area and the repositioning of the coach terminal.

Redevelopment at London Luton Airport to increase capacity from 12 million to 18 million by 2026

The investment will transform the airport’s annual capacity from 12 million to 18 million by 2026 and also deliver major upgrades to the airport’s facilities. This includes a complete redesign of the terminal, with the purpose of providing an efficient and convenient passenger experience. An improved rail service will also be introduced, with overnight trains from Luton Airport Parkway and the addition of Oyster card services through to the terminal building by the end of the year. Moreover, LLA intends to double the existing retail space by introducing exciting shopping and dining options, and creating a new luxury executive lounge.

Commenting on the success registered in September this year, Nick Barton, CEO of LLA, said: “These record passenger numbers demonstrate the increasing popularity of LLA with travellers. They also highlight the importance of expanding the airport to help meet the capacity needs in the south-east. The appointment of Whitemountain and the relocation of security are major strides forward in our plans to ensure we can continue both to meet growing demand in future and improve the overall passenger experience.”

Visit www.transforminglla.com for details of the improvements.