News

London Luton Airport schools programme is off to a flying start

Published: 18 December 2009

London Luton Airport has launched the Flying for Success education programme in partnership with Active Luton and Luton Borough Council. The Flying for Success Programme, based on the Department for Children, Schools and Families ‘Playing for Success’ initiative, involves inviting groups of local primary school children to undertake educational visits to the Airport.

The educational visits allow the children to gain and develop essential literacy skills in an environment that is stimulating and exciting and therefore conducive to learning. Tours are themed around key areas of the airport including the terminal, international travel, fire safety and the airport environment.

Foxdell Primary School helped to launch the programme on Wednesday 9th December with children enjoying a unique educational tour of the airport Fire station. Pupils were given a talk by Airport firemen and also had the opportunity to see a demonstration of the fire engines at work.

Mohammed Hasan a pupil from Foxdell Junior School said 'It was really good to learn about how the fire engine worked and have a go at squirting the water. It will help me to write a really interesting report'.

Stephanie Walker from Active Luton commented, "Active Luton are pleased to be working in partnership  with London Luton Airport on this exciting new education initiative. We hope that this project is as successful as our existing Playing for Success initiative."

Simon Earles, General Manager, Community Relations and Planning, London Luton Airport said:

'London Luton Airport is committed to supporting education in the local area.  We are delighted that the Flying for Success programme is giving young people access to different aspects of their local international Airport. By offering the Flying for Success programme it is our hope that we can offer practical and interactive ways to improve their literacy and numeracy skills.' 

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For more information please contact:
London Luton Airport Press Office - 07714 728035
press.office@ltn.aero
 


Notes to Editors
London Luton Airport is one of the UK's largest airports and carried over 10 million passengers in 2008, employing over 500 staff, the airport is a major economic driver for the region, as well as a major base for 'low cost' or 'no frills' air travel. 
 
easyJet, Ryanair, Wizz Air, Monarch, Thomson, EL AL, Blue Air, Aer Arann, Flybe, Wind Jet and now Danubewings operate from the airport, departing to over 95 destinations including services to Europe, Africa, and Asia, with onward connections to Mumbai, Hong Kong, Johannesburg, Beijing and Bangkok via Tel Aviv.
 
The airport is operated and developed by a consortium of which Abertis Infraestructuras, a leading European infrastructure provider, is a 90 per cent majority shareholder and Aena Internacional, the international business arm of Aena - the Spanish national airport and air traffic control organisation, is a 10 per cent shareholder. 

In January 2008 London Luton Airport launched its Community Engagement Strategy, which set out the Airport's formal commitments to the community up to 2012.  The strategy focuses on three action areas, 'A Better Environment', 'A Vibrant Neighbourhood' and 'A Growing Economy', identifying priority programmes in each one. 

The London Luton Airport Annual Report, published in January 2009, outlines new and more challenging commitments for Community Engagement in 2009 that include a 5% increase in recycling, commitment to a £50,000 Airport 'Community Fund' and employee training that will ensure 70% of all London Luton Airport Operations Ltd. managers and supervisory staff complete NVQ Level 2 personal development training.

London Luton Airport launched its new Community Trust Fund in January 2009.  The fund has been established to support local community initiatives that positively contribute towards the aims and objectives of the Airport's Community Engagement Strategy.

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