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Airport in UK town that's been named the 'best in Europe'

by DD Staff

December 07, 2024

A screen with airport signs and people walking

key takeaways

Even though Europe is home to many incredible, massive airports, this one in a tiny UK town is truly the best.

With more than 16 million passengers last year, London Luton Airport in Bedfordshire is the sixth busiest airport in the nation.

First opened more than 80 years ago, the international airport serves most of its routes in Europe and some in North Africa and Asia.

Today, it serves as a base for carriers such as EasyJet, TUI Airways, Ryanair and Wizz Air - and it was named the best European airport with 10 - 25 million passengers at the ACI Europe Best Airport Awards event in Istanbul.

The airport has not only made a name for itself as being Europe's best airport but also for other aspects too.

London Luton Airport has won its fair share of awards, which makes sense as to why it was voted the best airport of its category.

This year, it also won gold for Team of the Year (large category) and Best Experience for Vulnerable Customer category at the UK Customer Experience Awards.

And in 2023, the airport was named the UK's best airport by Conde Nast Traveller magazine readers.

London Luton Airport first opened on July 16 1938 and during the Second World War the airport was used by fighters of the Royal Air Force, before it was returned to the local council once the war ended.

By the 1960s, the airport played a significant role in package holiday businesses and nine years later a fifth of all holiday flights departed from the airport, leading it to become the country's most profitable airport.

The airport faced a reduction in passenger numbers because of a lack of reinvestment in it, especially while London Stanstead Airport, which is just over an hour away, was growing.

Between the 80s and 90s it went under revamps, including the opening of a new international terminal building by King Charles, who was the Prince of Wales at the time.

After years of updates and changes the airport which was once in decline managed to make its way back to the top.

Today the airport boasts a single, two-storey passenger terminal building, an airport lounge and a single runaway.

The team at London Luton Airport have also established a 'One Team, One Plan' strategy that aims to make it the UK's most friendliest and simplest major airport.