As I've said before, LTN is a very good REGIONAL Airport, but that's it!
My friend, you are missing the point. Each London airport has carved out its own markets which are:
Heathrow - Premium airlines
Gatwick - Low cost airlines and charter flights
Luton -Low cost airlines and executive jet traffic
London City – Premium passengers and executive jet traffic.
Stansted - Low cost airlines.
Stansted is no different to Luton and could be classed as a regional airport if you wish to describe Luton as a regional airport. Despite its higher passenger numbers due to and only because of Ryanair it serves a region including London. Luton also serves a region including London but Luton is easier to get to if you don’t live in North London and use public transport or are travelling down from the Midlands or Northern England.
Luton is by the UK’s main north south motorway. It also has direct mainline rail access to not only North London and the City but South London, the south east and the south coast. Heading the other way Luton has direct trains to Leicester, Sheffield, Nottingham and even Lincoln.
Stansted is a great airport for the low cost carriers but so is Luton. Luton folk know this but it seems that Stansted fans seem to think their airport is on a different level to Luton yet both airports have the same public perceptions. It is just a fact that Luton has a bigger catchment area and for most people is easier to get to.
Stansted does have a big airport feel about it but big is not always better as Stansted passengers find out nightly as they wait for their baggage.