Luton Airport hopes to boost passenger numbers by 7- 9 million per year
Luton airport – the UK’s 5th biggest – has announced a 4 week consultation on its plans that will start on 6 th February. It has plans to increase the annual number of passengers. It would handle 18 million passengers a year under the plan, up from 11.5 million. Work “can be achieved within the airport’s existing boundary and using the existing runway”. Once the consultation ends, the airport hopes to submit a planning application in April. The airport says: “Impacts on the environment, noise and road traffic flows will be fully evaluated as part of the process.” The airport announced plans for road improvements in November to reduce anticipated congestion at the time of the Olympics. Some of the work is paid for by public funds.
London Luton Airport hopes to boost passenger numbers
16 January 2012 (BBC)
Luton airport has announced plans to boost passenger numbers by nearly seven million a year. [ 18 million would be more like 9 million over the 2010 figure].
Proposals released by London Luton Airport Limited (LLAL) aim to also create 6,000 jobs.
The airport, the UK’s fifth biggest, would handle 18 million passengers a year under the plan, up from 11.5 million. [Highest was 10.2 million in 2008. Down to 8.7 million in 2010].
Its 57% growth bid comes after claims of an air travel capacity shortage in south east England, by 2020.
A four-week public consultation will begin on the 6 February and will include a series of public exhibitions around the region.
‘Good neighbour’
The project, known as “futureLuToN:Optimisation”, has already been introduced to the airport’s consultative committee, which represents local residents, councils and community groups.
In a statement, LLAL said the growth “can be achieved within the airport’s existing boundary and using the existing runway” and it will consider what modifications and improvements will be required.
LLAL Chair, Councillor Robin Harris said the airport needed to be ready to “embrace market demand in the future” but it would “listen carefully” before submitting a planning application.
“The benefits that will flow from the airport’s development will be realised in the local, regional and national economies,” he said.
“We are committed to ensure the airport will continue to be a good neighbour and any growth in passenger numbers is managed in a responsible manner. Impacts on the environment, noise and road traffic flows will be fully evaluated as part of the process.”
LLAL has said it intends to submit a planning application for consideration in or around April, at which time a further statutory consultation will be undertaken by Luton Borough Council as planning authority.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-16580283
earlier
Luton Airport plans Olympics terminal road access boos
2.11.2012 (BBC)
Luton Airport is to spend £4m to improve an access road to ease traffic delays and prepare for an influx of spectators for the 2012 Olympics.
Two new traffic lanes are to be built south of Airport Way through an existing underpass leading directly into a newly created set down point.
Plans have been submitted to Luton Borough Council for approval.
“The planned enhancements will relieve congestion en route to the airport,” managing director Glyn Jones said.
It is hoped the work will be finished by mid June.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-16580283
and
Millions of pounds is to be spent upgrading roads around London Luton Airport.
Luton Borough Council’s successful bid for almost £20m from the government means junctions 10 and 10a of the M1 are to be widened and improved.
Airport Way, which filters traffic to the terminal, is to be made into a dual carriageway in time for the 2012 Olympics.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-15556936
Luton’s passenger numbers (CAA data)
from http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/80/airport_data/2010Annual/Table_10_3_Terminal_Pax_2000_2010.pdf
LUTON (thousands)
2000 6 164
2001 6 540
2002 6 474
2003 6 786
2004 7 520
2005 9 135
2006 9 415
2007 9 919
2008 10 174
2009 9 115
2010 8 734
see also
Airport World – Monday, 16 January 2012
LUTON AIRPORT TO EXPAND TO 18MPPA
London Luton Airport has announced “ambitious plans” to optimise capacity at the gateway by around 57% so it will be able to handle at least 18 million passengers a year by 2020.
The gateway said that plans to increase capacity by an additional 6.5 million passengers would take shape using the existing runway and within the airports current boundaries.
According to the airport owner – London Luton Airport Limited (LLAL) – the gateway’s current maximum capacity is 11.5 million passengers with 9.6 million expected up to the end of March 2012.
In the calendar year for 2012 the airport is expecting to handle 10.2 million passengers.
The expansion project seeks to optimise the capacity of the existing airport and LLAL will consider what modifications and improvements will be required.
This will include looking at the aircraft taxiways, aprons, piers and parking stands, the road network, airport car parking and the passenger terminal.
Meanwhile, LLAL has estimated that the plans could create up to 6,000 new jobs and generate millions of pounds of investment.
The project – called ‘futureLuToN:Optimisation’ – was introduced today (January 16) to the airport’s consultative committee representing local residents, councils and community groups.
A pre-planning application public consultation will begin on Monday February 6, when plans will be presented in Luton and around the wider area. The four-week consultation process will run until March 5 and will include a series of public exhibitions around the region.
A dedicated website – www.futureLuToN.co.uk – will also be launched for interested parties to view proposals and provide their feedback on the airport’s plans.
Robin Harris, chair of LLAL, said: “We’re at the very beginning of a journey that builds on the tremendous success we have seen through the last decade and will ultimately bring huge benefits to Luton and the wider region – with jobs and much-needed income.
“We will consult actively and listen carefully ahead of submitting a planning application to enhance this important people’s asset but we must be ready to embrace market demand in the future.”
London Luton Airport is the UK’s fifth biggest airport. It is a headquarters for easyJet and is a major base for Wizz Air, Ryanair and Monarch.
Harris added: “Our plans that will go out for public consultation in February are ambitious.
“While we will have to work hard to meet our aspirations, I am encouraged by the vast majority of people and businesses in Luton and the wider region who believe strongly that the airport is a terrific asset for job creation and our biggest wealth creator.”
Luton Airport added that it would also consider expanding the airport further to be able to handle 30 million passengers a year but added that “this does not form part of the proposals being consulted on in February”.
Meanwhile, it is estimated that Luton will drive an additional 440 direct on-site jobs for every extra million passengers that pass through the airport, and as a result, an estimated additional 1,750 indirect jobs will be created by the airport’s plans for it to increase capacity to 18 million passengers per year, according to York Aviation.
London Luton Airport is operated by Abertis-owned London Luton Airport Operations Limited (LLAOL).
http://www.airport-world.com/news-articles/item/1297-luton-airport-to-expand-to-18mppa
Comment from an AirportWatch member in Luton:
The airport Consultative Committee this afternoon announced this madcap scheme. It is not quite as straightforward as that report puts it! Just for starters, it’s the subsidiary of Luton Borough Council which owns the airport which is making all the noise – not the company to whom Luton granted an operating concession (London Luton Airport Operations Ltd). There’s a break-point in that concession and it’s that which has given the owners big ideas, fuelled by some consultancy work done for them by York Aviation (the usual suspect).
Residents around Luton fear airport development plans will increase noise
6.10.2011 Luton Borough Council, the main shareholder of London Luton Airport , is considering the airport’s future. At an Executive meeting, it said it wants to increase the annual passengers to 18 million – almost double the current number, with a view to increasing up to 30 million passengers a year in due course. This would cause more road congestion and more noise across flight paths in the area, including Stevenage, Hitchin and Baldock. Click here to view full story…