Luton Airport

London Luton Airport (IATA: LTN, ICAO: EGGW) is an international airport in Luton, Bedfordshire, England. It is located 1.7 miles (2.7 km) east of the town centre and is the fourth-busiest airport serving London. The airport is owned by London Luton Airport Limited, a company wholly owned by Luton Borough Council, and is operated by London Luton Airport Operations Limited.

An airport opened on the site on July 16, 1938. During the Second World War, the airport was used by fighters of the Royal Air Force. Commercial activity and general aviation flight training at Luton resumed in 1952. By the 1960s, Luton Airport was important for the development of the package holiday business; by 1969, a fifth of all holiday flights from the UK departed from Luton Airport.

In the 1990s, new operators such as charter operator MyTravel Group and new low-cost scheduled flights from Debonair and EasyJet helped Luton grow quickly, making it the fastest-growing major airport in the UK. In November 1999, a new £40 million terminal was opened by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

In 2018, over 16.5 million passengers passed through the airport, a record total for Luton, making it the fifth busiest in the UK. It is the fourth-largest airport serving the London area after Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted, and serves as a base for easyJet, Ryanair and Wizz Air. The airport mainly offers flights within Europe, with some charter and scheduled routes to Northern Africa and Asia.

History

A Sud-Aviation Caravelle at Luton Airport in 1978

Luton Municipal Airport opened on 16 July 1938 by the Secretary of State for Air. It was located where the River Lea valley cuts through the Chiltern Hills, giving it a hill-top position. During the Second World War, the airport was used by the Royal Air Force. After the war, commercial flights began again in 1952.

In the 1960s, Luton Airport became important for package holidays, helping many people travel abroad for the first time. It was home to several charter airlines. By 1972, it was the most profitable airport in the UK, but faced a hard time in 1974 when a major holiday company stopped operating.

In the 1980s and 1990s, the airport grew with new terminals, control towers, and other updates. It became a limited company in 1987, and new airlines like easyJet helped increase passenger numbers greatly in the late 1990s.

Since 2000, the airport continued to develop. A new terminal opened in 1999, and more changes happened over the years. In 2018, a big redevelopment plan started to add more shops, gates, and improve the airport. The Luton DART people mover opened in 2023 to make it easier to get to and from the airport.

Ownership

London Luton Airport is owned by the local government of Luton, known as Luton Borough Council. However, a private company called London Luton Airport Operations Limited manages the airport's daily operations. The airport has special permission from the Civil Aviation Authority to serve passengers and offer flying lessons. The airport plays a big role in Luton's economy, as the town has more taxis per person than any other place in the United Kingdom.

Facilities

Luton Airport has one main building for passengers. On the ground floor, there are many places to check in, shops, and places to get help. After checking in, passengers go up to a lounge area where they can shop, eat, and wait to board their flights.

Waiting area

The airport has one runway where planes take off and land. There are places for planes to park near the building, and roads for buses, taxis, and cars to drop off passengers. The airport also has buildings for fixing and keeping planes, and some companies that work with airplanes have offices here too.

In 2019, plans were shared to build a second terminal at the airport. This would help more people travel through Luton Airport in the future. The airport also added a new stop on its train service to make it easier for people to get to and from the airport.

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

Many airlines fly regular passenger flights to and from London Luton Airport.

Cargo

The airport also handles cargo flights with various airlines.

Statistics

Traffic development

Busiest routes


Year	Number of passengers	Number of movements	Freight (tonnes)
1997	3,238,458	63,586	21,354
1998	4,132,818	70,667	25,654
1999	5,284,810	79,423	23,224
2000	6,190,499	84,745	32,992
2001	6,555,155	83,707	23,070
2002	6,486,770	80,924	20,459
2003	6,797,175	85,302	22,850
2004	7,535,614	94,379	26,161
2005	9,147,776	107,892	23,108
2006	9,425,908	116,131	17,993
2007	9,927,321	120,238	38,095
2008	10,180,734	117,859	40,518
2009	9,120,546	98,736	28,643
2010	8,738,717	94,575	28,743
2011	9,513,704	97,574	27,905
2012	9,617,697	96,797	29,635
2013	9,697,944	95,763	29,074
2014	10,484,938	101,950	27,414
2015	12,279,176	116,412	28,041
2016	14,551,774	131,536	25,464
2017	15,799,219	135,538	21,199
2018	16,581,850	136,511	26,193
2019	18,216,207	142,011	29,093
2020	5,550,821	59,769	31,155
2021	4,674,800	41,650	25,545
2022	13,324,491	87,783	31,049
2023	16,195,068	128,443	26,043
2024	16,735,894	131,972	30,667

Ground transport

The airport is close to the M1 motorway, which leads south to London and north to Milton Keynes and the north of England. It is connected to the motorway by the A1081 road. There are several car parks near the terminal, with options for short, medium, and long stays. Shuttle buses help travelers get between the car parks and the terminal.

Luton Airport Parkway station

Luton Airport Parkway train station, open since 1999, is on the Midland Main Line and offers quick trips to London. Two train companies serve the station: Govia Thameslink Railway and East Midlands Railway.

A light rail service called Luton DART links the airport terminal to the train station. It started operating in March 2023, replacing the old shuttle bus service. The cost to ride the DART is £4.90, but this price is included when you buy a train ticket marked “Luton Airport.” Some people, like local residents with special passes or disabled visitors with blue badges, can ride for free.

Local buses connect the airport to Luton town centre and nearby places. The Route A bus, part of the Luton to Dunstable Busway, links the airport with Luton, Dunstable, Houghton Regis, and Milton Keynes. Other bus services go to towns like Hitchin, Stevenage, and even London. There are also coaches to big airports such as Heathrow and Gatwick, and to places in the Midlands and North of England.

In popular culture

Luton Airport has been featured in several TV shows and other media. It was shown in two documentaries called Airline and Luton Airport, following the daily work of airport staff. The airport also appeared in a sitcom and a comedy sketch, as well as in a music video and a YouTube prank.

The airport was even mentioned in an old TV ad and inspired a popular song.