Luton Plans to Double Capacity.

17/01/2012

The plans, announced by the airports owners; London Luton Airport Limited (LLAL), express the intention to raise the passenger capacity by as much as 57%.

The plan would not include building a new runways; Gatwick handles over 30 million passengers a year with one runway, but would probably require adjustments to existing infrastructure. There have been reports in the last few months that the South East is heading for a massive shortfall in airspace capacity in the next decade. The reports are aimed at encouraging the government to build new runways at Heathrow, or Gatwick. But campaigners argue that there is no need for expansion when there is still space at both Luton and Stansted.

There will be a four week public consultation on the proposals at Luton. LLAL said in a statement that: “(growth)… can be achieved within the airport’s existing boundary and using the existing runway”. The chair of LLAL added that “The benefits that will flow from the airport's development will be realised in the local, regional and national economies… We are committed to ensure the airport will continue to be a good neighbour and any growth in passenger numbers is managed in a responsible manner. Impacts on the environment, noise and road traffic flows will be fully evaluated as part of the process.” The hope is that the scheme would allow Luton Airport to handle 18 million passengers per year, and create as many as 6,000 jobs in the area. The formal planning application will not be submitted until April, following the public consultation.

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