Luton Airport?s new operators pledge to upgrade its services | City A.M.
LUTON’S new operators pledged to transform the airport yesterday as their deal for the right to run the Bedfordshire site was completed.
Spanish airport group Aena revealed in July its plan to team up with private equity firm Ardian to buy the 49 per cent of Luton’s concession it did not already own for £394.4m.
The pair have bought out Spanish infrastructure group Abertis from the venture.
“The joint venture partners will now look to work with the airport management and all stakeholders to deliver a planned programme of changes to London Luton Airport which will transform the airport and deliver an enhanced customer experience,” the firms said yesterday.
Luton, the fifth-busiest airport in Britain, carries 9.6m passengers a year and hosts mainly low-cost airlines. It is also home to EasyJet’s headquarters.
The two companies have taken over a concession, granted by Luton Borough Council, to operate the airport until 2031.
The council postponed a decision earlier this month on whether to allow the airport to expand its operations to carry up to 18m passengers a year.