It might also not have a 08 / 26 orientation due to the lack of 3000m of relatively flat land following that direction. My guess is that a new runway will point more towards a northeast – southwest direction
LTNman, this orientation was examined in detail and rejected because of the adverse airspace and route interaction with Heathrow traffic (especially when Heathrow is landing 09L/09R) and Bovingdon to the southwest of LTN.
The 'final' choice - based on the consultants' and NATS' input - will be published for wider public consultation in the near future.
Rest assured that for the supporters and users of LTN as opposed to the NIMBYs and NOPEs, that choice will - if all goes well - in some seven years propel Luton directly from League Division 3 into League Division 1 and will give BAA and Stansted the sort of head-on competition that could otherwise, only be introduced by transporting Manchester Airport down the M6 and M1 to a location just south of Luton.
As for Runway 08L/26R, the chosen alignment, length and layout and the various 'environmental trade-offs' will leave you sleeping more peacefully for most of the night, and also absolutely staggered...
