It welcomed almost 1.022 million people in January, the start of a landmark year in which airport will celebrate its 80thanniversary and reach the next stage of its redevelopment.
Aviation Minister Baroness Sugg toured the airport and viewed the progress of its current £150 million redevelopment programme on a visit last month. The investment will extend the terminal and increase the airport’s annual capacity to 18 million passengers by 2020.
- Pictured: Baroness Sugg with London Luton Airport chairman Clive Condie (left) and chief executive Nick Barton.
The new terminal building is due to open later this year.
The airport has also hosted a week-long Westminster exhibition attended by MPs including Chris Grayling, Secretary of State for Transport, and Luton South MP Gavin Shuker.
It highlighted London Luton’s role in connecting Britain over the past 80 years and emphasised the need to improve rail connections to the airport or risk missing an opportunity to support future economic growth.
The airport’s chief executive Nick Barton said: “2018 is already off to a fantastic start. We have seen another record-breaking month, welcoming over one million passengers in January for the first time.
“This is yet more evidence of the continued demand for air travel, and another reminder of the UK’s urgent need for additional aviation capacity.
“Currently demand for air travel is outpacing capacity. Our current redevelopment and expansion will help to provide part of the solution. However, we also need improved rail links to Luton Airport Parkway.
“The new East Midlands franchise is a once in a decade opportunity to deliver the air capacity UK travellers want and that the economy needs. We cannot afford to miss it.”
