Wizz Air acquired slots from the previous Monarch portfolio at Luton from the administrators back in 2017, sufficient to cover five (?) based aircraft. I don't believe the value of those slots was ever publicly announced but the indication was that the transaction definitely did have a monetary value - so it is reasonable to assume that Wizz have indeed paid TUI for the slots this time around.

Self Approval of increased pax limit
 

The following extract from Bim Afolami (MP Harpenden and Hitchin) may throw more light on the subject....
I have hosted public meetings to discuss the impact of flight noise and local pollution over the past two years, and I have held several formal and informal meetings with local campaigners fighting to stop the airport making our case to Luton Airport, the Government, and the Civil Aviation Authority. I also held a debate in Parliament following the announcement that the airport would seek to increase passenger numbers from 18 million to 32 million. During this debate the Government confirmed for the first time ever, that Luton Airport will not be allowed to expand beyond its current 18 million passenger limit with approval from Planning Inspectorate in central Government - so Luton Borough Council (who own the airport) will not be able to approve its own planning application....

The council were never expecting to approve their own planning application as it was so big which is why the council is going down the path of a DCO (Development Consent Order) . So far the council has spent £40 million on the DCO but then it would seem the council has unlimited funds while at the same time it cuts council services. Actually £40 million is small change as the running total is around £460,000,000 and they might not get planning permission. Never mind, the council tax payers can pick up the debt as the existing council will jump ship at the first sign of trouble.

It should be noted though that they have separated bits of the expansion like the first phase of the Dart (£225 million) and the dual carriageway (£170 million) so they could give themselves planning permission but the rest of it goes to Government. As time goes on it will be harder for the Government to give planning permission when they are trying to cut emissions. As for Luton Council, they just don't care and are a fairly uneducated lot who lost the plot years ago.

If you told someone not so many years ago that slots in LTN would actually be traded for actual money in the future, I think you'd be excused of being off your head.

The physical changes to the airport are staggering. I can well remember the airport before the tunnel was dug when access was via local roads. I used to play with the terminal tannoy in the knowledge that the terminal was void of any passengers.

Luton is now handling more pax in a year than Heathrow did in 1968 (14m). And even then, Heathrow had three terminals.

18,112,000 So much for the legal cap but then LLAOL operates under a nod and a wink understanding with the council. One thing is for sure and that is the council won't be rushing to enforce a cut in its income.

Anyone remember the planning application for the 1999 new terminal? The council claimed its capacity was 5 million so they could vote through their own application. That 5 million terminal is now exceeding 18 million

Yes, that's how Britain works!

So it looks like Xmas Day this year will be one of, if not the busiest ever for LTN. Appears that WZZ are running a full programme on their northern and eastern European routes.

Wouldn't expect anything else, most of Europe the big day is 24th.
Farnborough is closed 25/26th so it will be busy for FBOs as well.

Don’t seem to remember there were many flights last Christmas

We discussed this last year, WZZ had 30 along with TOM and VLG so will see what occurs this year.

Quite a few of the Wizz Air flights on 25/12 are fully booked (to my great surprise!).

Chatting to some ground support staff & they are certainly not impressed with having to work tomorrow!.....There's likely to be a high sickness rate!!

I posted about this very subject yesterday although I have no idea where the post went. It used to be the case that just skeleton crews would come in. Even the tower was on reduced hours and would randomly shut. I can remember one year when all the apron flood lighting was switched off on Christmas Day. Only ever seen that happen once.

LBS....Glad you have this Christmas off. I've worked plenty over my time at LTN (including dealing with an AOG aircraft on Christmas day!) These busy Christmas day programs at LTN only started last year so I can understand why some staff are not that happy! We try and work a rota so you never work two Christmas days two years in a row (and that's with very limited manpower)

Seasons Greetings to all

In any workplace where performance is managed, throwing a sickie is unlikely to be allowed to pass unnoticed. Even more so when remaining colleagues have to pick up the slack. And especially in an environment such as airport operations when working at Christmas is not only normal but will have been planned months in advance. T&Cs for ground staff are miserable and I feel for them but working Christmas is not a surprise.

throwing a sickie is unlikely to be allowed to pass unnoticed

Unfortunately, throwing a sickie is all too common with some of LTN's handling agents and the rapid turn-over of staff reflects this!

Christmas day working at LTN is a recent thing for many staff so I have some sympathy for those who joined before the Wizz invasion!