(ACDL)
So lets look forward say 25 years
King Pong - the first question to be addressed is whether Airport Concessions and Development Limited (ACDL) still has the Concession to run LTN. TBI before it was subsumed by ACDL expressed a desire to extend to 50 years which would take the Concession to around 2050. This represents a far more realistic business deal for ACDL than the 30 years originally let, simply because of the vast expenditure necessary to reverse the previous 20 years decline under the penny-pinching incompetent ownership of Luton Borough Council (LBC).
If ACDL does still have a Concession - new or extended - then whatever concession fee is agreed, it would still be paid to LBC.
Although the proposed Project 2030 development lies in parts of Herts, there is a precedent in that some years ago, the county boundary between Sussex and Surrey was jinked to fully encompass Gatwick at the time of further development. There's no reason why this could not again be done.
Irrespective, ACDL would still presumably pay business rates and one assumes that if the boundary wasn't altered, this would be to both councils on a proportionate basis.
Not sure if ACDL has the right to close down and dig up the 'old' i.e. existing Airport, anyway.
One thing is almost 99% certain. If the Concession does expire in 2030 and LTN goes back into direct LBC control, any further progress would immediately cease and the place would once more, simply fall into a steady decline.
LBC and its 'management' were incapable of effectively marketing and efficiently running LTN when it was handling just 1.5M annual passengers 85% of whom were 'bucket and spade' punters.
It's almost inconceivable that LBC would have or would be able to employ a management team with the ability to effectively market and efficiently run LTN at +/- 30M annual passengers!
My money's on an extended or re-negotiated Concession with ACDL - that way, LTN continues to move ahead with a professional and specialist management whilst LBC (and perhaps also eventually Herts CC) stand around with their grubby hands outstretched...
