Luton Airport's September passenger numbers up 19.2%
This marks a 19.2% increase on the same month last year and 18 months’ consecutive growth at the airport.
LLA is investing £100 million to meet rapidly growing passenger demand. September also saw the redevelopment take two major steps forward as Whitemountain was announced as the first construction contractor and the new enlarged security area was opened.
Whitemountain, part of the Lagan group, 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.
Meanwhile, the security area has been relocated to the ground floor and significantly expanded to handle growing numbers of passengers. Alongside an investment in the latest screening technology, the result has been a significant improvement in the experience for passengers.
The £100 million investment will increase the airport’s annual capacity from 12 million to 18 million by 2026. It will also deliver major upgrades to the airport’s facilities.
Nick Barton, CEO of LLA, said: “LLA is continuing to see unprecedented demand for air travel – September marks the 18th consecutive month of passenger growth.
“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.”
