Article from BTNews 17 APRIL 2017
Luton Airport roadworks
The dual carriageway runway underpass into the terminal area has partially opened at Luton Airport just in time for the Easter rush. From the right turn into the Mid-Term car park (free for 15min drop-off) just before the bridge vehicles are into a chargeable area (£3) unless visiting, by previous arrangement, the airport management or easyJet.
Figures published last week show that a record 15m passengers passed through the airport in the last 12 months. The March numbers of 1.2m confirm a 15.7% increase over the same month last year.
These numbers have helped Luton operators to reap £25.3m of dividends. Passenger numbers increased by 19% to a record 14.6m in 2016, helping profits to surge by 23% to £44.2m. The airport freehold is owned by Luton Borough Council and is run by Spain’s Aena (51%) and France’s Ardian (49%), which paid £394m in 2013 for a concession to operate it until 2031. Luton Council takes a passenger tax.
Luton is dominated by easyJet, the FTSE 100 carrier that first flew from the airport in 1995. Wizz, also LSE-listed and Luton's second-biggest carrier, is expanding rapidly at Luton, from where it will fly to 42 destinations this summer.
The airport is midway through a £110m expansion that will increase capacity to 18m passengers by 2020.
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