Transport Secretary opens London Luton Airport’s £160m upgraded terminal

The Secretary of State for Transport has officially opened London Luton Airport’s (LLA) upgraded terminal building.

Chris Grayling MP was given a first-hand look at the results of the £160m project, which took three years to complete and marks the biggest redevelopment in the airport’s 80-year history.

Following the transformation, the terminal now houses 30 new high street and luxury stores, including Hugo Boss, Chanel and Oliver Bonas, as well as over 1,000 more seats and free Wi-Fi.

The upgraded terminal exterior

The works, which have increased LLA’s annual capacity by 50%, also created a new boarding pier with eight additional boarding gates and an expanded security search area.

External elements included a new dual carriageway, bus interchange and multi-storey car park.

LLA is forecast to be serving 18 million passengers annually by 2020, up from around 16.5 million in 2018.

Chris Grayling MP said: “London Luton’s investment firmly puts passengers at the heart of development and will improve the experience of those using the airport for business or holidays.

Part of the new retail area

“Supporting thriving airports like London Luton will form a part of the Government’s Aviation 2050 consultation, ensuring the benefits of transformation are felt across the local area.”

London Luton Airport CEO Nick Barton commented: “2018 has been a milestone year for LLA. We celebrated our 80th anniversary in the summer and now we have completed our three-year transformation which brings a host of benefits to passengers.

“This is a new era for LLA. We are the fastest-growing major London airport and are now in a position to play an increasingly important role in the UK’s aviation network.”