London Luton Airport

About London Luton Airport

London Luton Airport (IATA: LTN, ICAO: EGGW) is an international airport on the eastern edge of Luton in Bedfordshire, about 1.7 miles (2.7 km) from the town centre and around 32 miles north of central London. It is close to Junction 10 of the M1. UK Civil Aviation Authority figures show that Luton handled 17,768,944 terminal passengers in 2025, around 17.8 million, making it the fifth busiest airport in the UK.

The airport is owned by Luton Rising, the trading name of London Luton Airport Limited, a company owned by Luton Council. Day-to-day operation is carried out under a concession running until 2032 by London Luton Airport Operations Limited, whose shareholders are Aena (51%) and InfraBridge (49%). Luton has a single runway, 07/25, which is 2,162 metres long, and one passenger terminal.

In April 2025 the Secretary of State for Transport approved a Development Consent Order allowing the airport to grow to 32 million passengers a year. The plans include a new terminal along with additional piers, stands and supporting infrastructure.

How to get to London Luton Airport

By train

The nearest railway station is Luton Airport Parkway, which is connected to the terminal by the Luton DART, an automated, electrically powered shuttle that takes under four minutes. Rail options from London include:

• Luton Airport Express: East Midlands Railway trains run non-stop from London St Pancras International to Luton Airport Parkway in about 22 minutes, the quickest rail route from London.
• Thameslink: frequent trains to Luton Airport Parkway from London St Pancras International, Farringdon, City Thameslink, London Blackfriars and London Bridge.

By road

Drivers should leave the M1 at Junction 10 and follow the signs for the airport, which is about two miles from the junction. The airport recommends the postcode LU2 9QT for satellite navigation. Official parking is available on site, including terminal car parks, mid stay and long stay car parks, as well as drop-off areas. Taxis and a car hire centre are also available.

By bus and coach

Coaches and buses stop directly outside the terminal. National Express and Green Line run coach services throughout the day and night, including connections to central London. The Green Line 757 runs about every 30 minutes on weekdays and hourly overnight, seven days a week. Local buses link the airport with Luton and surrounding towns.

Terminal and facilities

Luton operates from a single terminal building with check-in, security and a departure lounge serving gates across three piers. Facilities and services include:

• Fast Track Security, which can be booked online in advance.
• Lounges: My Lounge and No1 Lounge, both bookable in advance.
• Assisted Travel, with an Assisted Travel lounge after security on the way to Gates 30 to 43, including an adult changing facility with a hoist and shower.
• A Quiet Room next to Gate 17 and a multi-faith prayer room with a chaplaincy team.
• Hearing loops at key points such as check-in, security, departure gates and border control.

The London Luton Airport contact number for the main switchboard is +44 (0)1582 405100. Separate contacts for car parking, lost property and assisted travel are listed on the official contact page.

Airlines and destinations

Luton is mainly served by low-cost and leisure airlines, with short-haul routes across Europe, including Central and Eastern Europe, and holiday flights to Spain, Portugal, Greece, Turkey and the Canary Islands. easyJet has its headquarters at the airport, and Wizz Air runs its main UK base there, with 15 based aircraft from summer 2026 after taking over airport slots from TUI. Ryanair and Jet2.com also operate from Luton, with Jet2.com flying a summer 2026 programme to destinations including Madeira, Girona and Verona. Schedules change by season, so passengers should check with their airline.

History

Luton Airport opened on 16 July 1938. The airport is owned by the local council through Luton Rising, and its operation is contracted to London Luton Airport Operations Limited under a concession that runs until 2032. Luton Airport Parkway railway station opened in 1999, giving the airport a direct rail connection to London and the East Midlands.

The Luton DART, an automated shuttle between Luton Airport Parkway and the terminal, was officially opened by King Charles III in December 2022 and began carrying passengers in March 2023. In 2018 the airport handled 16.5 million passengers, and by 2025 the total had risen to around 17.8 million. The Development Consent Order approved on 3 April 2025 sets out a long-term plan to nearly double the airport's capacity to 32 million passengers a year.