Proposals for a £100m expansion of Luton Airport, expanding its capacity to 18 million passengers per year, have been granted.

Luton Borough Council has now given consent for work to start on a airport, which will be expanded and modernised to accommodate:

  • Up to 20 security passenger screening lanes
  • 15 immigration passenger screening lanes
  • Up to 8 international and 1 domestic passenger reclaim belts
  •  Increased retail, catering, circulation and seating areas
  •  A new two-storey pier
  • Dual the road from the Holiday Inn Roundabout to a newly configured road system in front of the Central Terminal Area
  • Build a new parallel taxiway to unlock capacity for an additional 6 million passengers a year from the existing runway
  • Build a new multi-storey car park The Government approved the plans in May despite campaigners saying the expansion would cause an increase in noise and air pollution.

The airport has now begun its tendering process to find contractors for the construction, which is due to be completed in three stages over 12 years.

Building of a new access road will begin next year.