London Luton Airport LTN
London Luton Airport welcomed 16.94 million passengers in 2024, representing a 3.3% increase compared to the previous year. Situated north of central London, the airport also recorded 131,972 aircraft movements, up 2.7% year-on-year. Luton is continuing with its steady recovery, working toward regaining its pre-pandemic peak of 18.19 million passengers.
London Luton Airport offers non-stop flights to over 130 destinations across more than 30 countries in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. It serves as a significant base for low-cost carriers, including easyJet, Wizz Air, Ryanair, and, most recently, Jet2.com. In 2025, Jet2.com commenced operations at Luton Airport, introducing over 17 new routes to leisure destinations such as Alicante, Tenerife, Faro and Antalya.
In 2024, Wizz Air was London Luton’s largest carrier, serving as a base for its UK subsidiary. It accounted for 44.5% of the airport’s total scheduled capacity. It was followed closely by easyJet with a 39% share. Ryanair completed the top three with 13.5% of capacity.
The majority of Luton Airport’s passengers, over 12 million of them, are generated on EU routes. Given Luton Airport’s strong performance with carriers like Wizz Air, further expansion into Eastern European destinations is possible. Furthermore, there’s potential to explore additional routes in the MENA region, catering to both leisure and business travellers.
In April 2025, the UK government approved London Luton’s expansion plan to increase its annual passenger capacity from 18 million to 32 million. The expansion includes the construction of a new terminal, additional taxiways and aircraft stands, enhanced road access via a new dual carriageway, as well as an extension of the Luton DART light rail system.
London Luton Airport has already undergone a comprehensive transformation over the past few years, which has included the installation of the latest security screening technology, expanded facilities for PRM (Persons with Reduced Mobility) passengers and a growing range of new shops and restaurants. In 2023, the Luton Airport Express was opened, an approximately half-hour rail link from central London that has made London Luton one of the capital’s best-connected airports.
Tourism Board Info
London Luton Airport (LLA) is rapidly emerging as a prime opportunity for airline route developers seeking to tap into the UK’s growing leisure and regional travel markets. With a £2.4 billion expansion plan approved in April 2025, LLA is set to increase its annual passenger capacity from 19 million to 32 million by the mid-2040s, creating up to 11,000 new jobs and injecting £1.5 billion annually into the local economy .
The airport’s strategic location within the “Golden Triangle” of London, Oxford, and Cambridge positions it as a key gateway for both domestic and international travelers. LLA offers over 120 international destinations across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, facilitating significant foreign direct investment in the East of England region .
In April 2025, Jet2 established its 13th UK base at LLA, launching flights to 17 holiday destinations, including exclusive routes to Girona, Madeira, and Verona. This move underscores the airport’s appeal to leisure carriers and its potential for route expansion
LLA’s commitment to sustainability is evident through its Green Controlled Growth framework, which imposes legally binding limits on noise, carbon emissions, air quality, and surface access impacts . The airport also boasts the Luton DART, an automated people mover connecting Luton Airport Parkway station to the terminal in under four minutes, enhancing accessibility and reducing road congestion .
With its strategic location, robust expansion plans, and commitment to sustainable growth, London Luton Airport presents a compelling case for airline route developers aiming to capitalize on the UK’s dynamic aviation landscape.
