LLA expansion approval to create up to 11,000 jobs

Approval for sustainable growth at London Luton Airport is a tipping point for the future of the local and national economies

• Growth plans will generate an additional £1.5 billion in the economy each year and increase consumer choice of airlines and destinations
• A commercial agreement between airport operator and local authority owner will unlock investment and additional funds for public services and local communities.

London Luton Airport Operations Limited (“LLAOL”), the company owned by Aena and InfraBridge which operates London Luton Airport (LLA), has today welcomed Government approval for the airport to increase annual passenger capacity from 19 million to 32 million passengers.

These growth plans, proposed by airport owners Luton Rising, balance the significant economic growth opportunity for the UK with some of the most robust, far-reaching and comprehensive commitments to sustainability introduced at a UK airport, including a legally binding and independently monitored framework with limits on noise, airport carbon emissions, air quality and surface access under a ‘Green Controlled Growth’ model.

Creating up to 11,000 new jobs and unlocking an additional £1.5 billion in the economy every year, the plans will deliver one of the largest construction programmes for the town and wider region in recent years.

The plans will also provide a generational opportunity to further boost Luton Council’s investment in frontline public services and local communities. Since 2013, significant investment made by LLAOL, has delivered the fastest growth period in LLA’s history, with annual passenger numbers rising from 10 million in 2013 to around 18 million today. Over this period, LLAOL has provided over £0.5 billion in concession fee income to Luton Rising, contributing to investment in local community causes, including frontline council services.

Alberto Martin, Chief Executive Officer, London Luton Airport said: “We welcome today’s approval from Government, which now provides Luton with a generational opportunity to transform the town and our region’s economy. Once complete, these plans will generate an additional £1.5 billion for the economy every year and create up to 11,000 jobs. Our priority now is to finalise a commercial agreement with Luton Council to renew our successful partnership so together we can deliver on the Government’s growth policy, and make the expansion plans a reality as soon as possible. This will put Luton at the heart of a collective mission to achieve sustainable economic growth.”

Rodrigo Marabini Ruiz, Director of International Subsidiaries at Aena said: “Increasing the airport’s capacity by 70% sustainably will require an investment and operating partner with specialist skills and expertise and, as the world’s largest airport operator, we are ready to support Luton’s next chapter. LLA contributes a sizeable proportion of Luton Council’s revenue each year, and we are proud to operate one of the UK’s most community-driven infrastructure assets that is focused on making a positive impact for that purpose.”

Graeme Ferguson, Head of Airports at InfraBridge said: “Together, InfraBridge and Aena are committed to building on LLA’s success, providing the expertise and capital required to deliver new infrastructure and achieve an ambitious passenger target that closely aligns with the government’s growth mission. Our successful public-private partnership with Luton Council has driven exceptional outcomes for Luton and all users of LLA, including our airline partners who will benefit from enhanced efficiency and increased capacity under these expansion plans.”

Paul Kehoe, Chair of Luton Rising: “Today’s decision enables us to continue detailed planning for the next chapter in the success story of London Luton Airport. The benefits are clear. At a new capacity of 32 million passengers per year, our scheme will deliver up to 11,000 new jobs, additional annual economic activity of up to £1.5bn, and up to an additional £13m every year for communities and good causes. By introducing maximum limits for the airport’s noise, operational greenhouse gas emissions, air quality and surface access impacts, we also believe that our Green Controlled Growth framework represents the most far-reaching commitment to the sustainable operation of an airport ever put forward in the UK. We would like to thank the many thousands in the local and business communities who have supported us in successfully making the case for growth.”

Rachel Hopkins MP for Luton South and South Bedfordshire said: “Today marks a significant moment for our town and region. The growth of London Luton Airport will boost Luton’s economy by creating jobs, enhancing skills development, and supporting our charitable sector. It is a clear example of how a Labour Government will stimulate economic growth in communities like Luton, while remaining firmly committed to meeting our environmental responsibilities.”

About London Luton Airport

London Luton Airport (LLA) is one of the UK’s busiest airports, carrying over 16.7 million passengers in 2024. The airport is operated by a consortium, of which the majority shareholder is AENA, the world’s largest airport operator, and InfraBridge, a leading infrastructure investment manager. Airlines include easyJet, Wizz Air, Jet2, Ryanair, Tui, FlyOne, Sun Express and El Al.

The Luton Airport Express is a dedicated train service that allows passengers to travel from central London to the LLA terminal in around 30 minutes. The Luton Airport Express runs from St Pancras International to Luton Airport Parkway station and connects seamlessly with the DART, an electrically powered people mover that connects to the airport terminal in less than four minutes.

Last year, LLA was named European Airport of the Year (10-25 million passengers) by ACI EUROPE.

In 2023, LLA also became only the third major UK airport to achieve Level 4 of the globally recognised Airport Carbon Accreditation scheme, demonstrating that it is ‘transforming its operations to achieve carbon reductions in line with global climate goals’. With a maximum score of 100 and a five-star rating, LLA has been ranked as a sector leader for three consecutive years in the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark benchmark of sustainability governance management and performance of major infrastructure assets worldwide.

To learn about the progress London Luton Airport is making across its sustainability programme please click here.

Further information on London Luton Airport can be found here: https://www.london-luton.co.uk