Best year ever at London Luton Airport as passenger total hits 16.6 million

London Luton Airport (LLA) enjoyed its busiest year to date in 2018, new figures show.

Around 16.6 million passengers used the airport last year, up 5% on 2017.

December delivered a particularly sharp year-on-year uptick of 19.7%, with more than 1.26 million people passing through LLA’s terminals in the run up to, and during, the festive period.

The record year saw the launch of the airport’s £160m redevelopment project, which is set to increase capacity 50% by 2020.

Its newly upgraded terminal, officially opened in December by Transport Secretary Chris Grayling, features 48 new retail stores and restaurants along with 3,000 additional seats.

The scheme also created a new boarding pier and upgraded transport links.

LLA chief exec Alberto 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.”

The top three destinations available at LLA in 2018 were Amsterdam, Bucharest and Budapest.

A total of 136,270 flights covered 92,457,608 air miles – the equivalent of flying to the moon and back 195 times

LLA’s busiest day was August 10, when it welcomed 60,022 passengers.

In May last year, European airline Wizz Air revealed plans to create hundreds of jobs and establish headquarters at Luton for its new UK subsidiary.