London Luton Airport

On July 16, 1938, London Luton Airport was officially opened by the Right Honourable Kingsley Wood, Secretary of State for Air. It served as a base for the 264 Fighter Squadron during the war and then, in 1952, civil use of the airport resumed and a new control tower opened. Over the next ten years, the "package" holiday was developed, which allowed many flyers to travel abroad for the first time. By 1969, a fifth of all holiday flights from the United Kingdom left from Luton Airport and by 1972 Luton had become the most profitable airport in Britain. Then in 1974, Luton was negatively affected when the major tour operator Clarksons and its airline Court Line went into liquidation. In 1985, HRH The Prince of Wales opened a new international terminal building at the airport. Two years later, Luton International Airport became a Limited Company with Luton Borough Council being the sole shareholder. In 1990, the airport changed its name to London Luton Airport as a way of marking its position as part of the London airport network. The following year, there was an unsuccessful attempt to sell the airport and a new management team was put in place to help grow passenger numbers and stop losses. Over £30 million was invested in airport infrastructure and improving facilities over the next five years, including a new air traffic control tower, new cargo center, a new access road, and the installation of a Category 3 Instrument Landing System. From 1997 to 1999, passenger volume significantly increased, making London Luton the United Kingdom's fastest-growing major airport. In 1999, an £80 million development program was completed, providing the airport with a £40 million terminal that included 60 check-in desks, and modern baggage and flight information systems. The terminal was further refurbished in 2000 with upgrades to the departures and arrivals area, baggage facilities, and new retail outlets. The airport continues to thrive today. As of 2018, passenger numbers reached a record-breaking 16.5 million travelers. That same year, a three-year £160 million redevelopment plan commenced, aimed at increasing overall capacity by 50%.

The airport is in England, just 1.5 miles east of Luton town centre and 28 miles north of Central London. 

● The airport has a single 2,160-meter-long runway, running east to west at an elevation of 526 feet. It is equipped with an Instrument Landing System (ILS) rated to Category IIIB, allowing the airport to continue operating in poor visibility conditions. 
● The airport is served by the Route A of the Luton to Dunstable Busway, a route which connects the airport with Luton Town Centre and the nearby towns of Dunstable, Houghton Regis, and Milton Keynes. 
● It is the fourth-largest airport serving the London area, behind Heathrow, Gatwick, and Stansted, and is listed as one of London's six international airports, along with London City and Southend.