The news that Govia has been awarded the Thameslink franchise from September 2014 has been welcomed by London Luton Airport.

The new franchise will include the introduction of a minimum of two services an hour around the clock between London St Pancras International and Luton Airport Parkway.

Each year an extra 400,000 to 600,000 existing passengers are expected to take advantage of the additional early morning services when the airport is at its busiest. 

Glyn Jones, managing director of London Luton Airport, said: "Coming just a couple of weeks after the airport received the green light from the Government to invest in London Luton’s future, it’s important that an improved rail service between now and 2021 keeps pace with the demands of a developing airport and its passengers.

"Under the Department for Transport’s new approach to involve stakeholders like the airport in how rail franchises can be better managed and improved, we look forward to working with Govia to improve the speed and frequency of trains serving the airport and to deliver long term creative solutions to some of the legacy issues that have impacted the overall experience of travelling to and from London Luton by train".