Luton Airport enjoys busiest ever year in 2018 as passenger numbers soar to 16.6m
Recently revamped London Luton Airport (LLA) enjoyed its busiest year last year, welcoming 16.6m passengers to the airport.
The figures are a five per cent increase on the previous year. During December, 1.26m passengers used the airport, an increase of 19.7 per cent on December the year before.
The airport unveiled its upgraded terminal after its three-year £160m redevelopment last month.
The redevelopment has been the biggest in the airport’s 80-year history and has seen the terminal expanded to increase capacity in London and the south east, a task levelled to airports by the government.
The new terminal features 30 new new high street and high-end stores including Hugo Boss, Chanel and Oliver Bonas, as well as 3,000 more seats, a new boarding pier and upgraded transport links. It also contains a new dual carriageway, bus interchange and multi-storey car park.
The redevelopment will allow the airport to increase its annual capacity by 50 per cent to 18m passengers by 2020. Passenger numbers have already increased by 35 per cent since work began in 2015, making Luton London's fastest growing airport.
Last month Nick Barton stood down as the airport's chief executive and was replaced by former planning and investment director, Alberto Martin, who took up the role with immediate effect.
Martin said: “2018 was a landmark year for LLA as we welcomed more passengers than ever before, celebrated our 80th anniversary, and opened our newly-upgraded terminal.
“As we enter the New Year, we will work hard to ensure that the benefits of our transformation are felt by our passengers, staff and the local community in the years ahead.”
Amsterdam, Bucharest and Budapest emerged as the most popular destinations in 2018.
Read more: Passenger numbers soar to 1.5m at London Luton Airport