Airport operator says plans had a ‘positive response’

The public consultation by London Luton Airport Operations Limited (LLAOL) on its Master Plan closed yesterday (Weds).

It launched its bid to expand the airport to 16 million passengers a year after the company that owns the airport on behalf of the council, London Luton Airport Limited (LLAL) said it wanted to take numbers to 18 million.

There is a break clause in the contract between the two that will allow the council to end LLAOL’s concession and look for another company to run the airport.

A spokesman for LLAOL said: “As the airport operator since 1998, LLAOL carried out a detailed study of the airport and the opportunities for growth.

“We used this as a solid basis for creating a credible and sustainable plan to make such a major driver of our local and regional economy better, bigger and the best neighbour it can be.”

Improving transport links with London, providing sustainable local jobs and looking after the environment were at the top of LLAOL’s agenda, he added, saying airport growth would be phased over the next 15 years.

He continued: “We have worked closely with local groups through the London Luton Airport Consultative Committee, and have so far found their feedback on our plans helpful and generally positive.

“To date, many have shown strong support for the benefits of our plans, including the creation of at least 1,000 new jobs on site and an increase in the total number of jobs related to the Airport by over 4,000.”