News from February 2008

‘10 million passengers’ in the air

Published: 14 February 2008

Passenger numbers at London Luton Airport have today reached the 10 million mark for the first time in the Airport’s 70 year history.

This figure, based on a 12 month period, reaffirms the growing demand for travellers to use London Luton Airport for both business and leisure flights. New airlines and over 40 new routes in the last two years have seen passenger throughput increase significantly and London Luton Airport remains one of the fastest growing UK airports.

Airlines such as easyJet, Ryanair, Wizz Air, Monarch and Thomsonfly continue to add new destinations from London Luton and premium airline, Silverjet, have introduced exciting new long haul destinations; New York and Dubai.  Most recently, London Luton saw the arrival of SkyEurope flying to Bratislava, Prague, Kosice and Poprad and also Flybe offering a twice daily service to the Isle of Man.
 
Natalie Raper, the Airport's Marketing Director, commented: "With a key focus on offering more destinations to our passengers, particularly cities in Central and Eastern Europe and with the introduction of a premium transatlantic product from Silverjet's private terminal, London Luton Airport has seen a notable increase in passenger throughput, helping us to reach this fantastic milestone".

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For more information, please contact:
London Luton Airport Press Office 07714 728035

Notes to Editors:
London Luton Airport is one of the UK's largest UK airports with passenger numbers nearing ten million in 2007, an increase of nearly 400 per cent over the last decade.  Employing close to 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 Scheduled, Aer Arann, Silverjet, Thomsonfly, SkyEurope, First Choice, XL Airways, Flybe and Thomas Cook operate from the airport, departing to over 90 destinations including services to Europe, Africa and North America.

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 sets 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.
 
As well as outlining the Airport's priorities for the next five years, the document also summarises its commitments for 2008, which include the publishing of a revised environmental policy, practical support for at least 20 local community projects and the development of a schools outreach programme.

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