Luton Airport History

The London Luton Airport is the fourth-largest airport servicing the London area in the UK. It is 3.2 kilometers (2 miles) from Junction 10a to the M1 motorway, and is among London’s 6 biggest international airports along with London Southend Airport and London City.

The airport is base to Monarch, EasyJet, Ryanair, and  Thomson Airways. In 2013, just a little under 9.7 million passengers made way through the airport, making London Luton the 6th busiest airport within the UK.

  The routes served were mostly within Europe, though the airport also catered to some scheduled and charter routes to Asia and Northern Africa.

 Luton Airport Background

 On July 16 1938 Kingsley Wood, the Secretary of State for Air,  opened an airport on the site and during World War II it became the base for Royal Air Force fighter jets.

The airport was situated where the River Lea Valley cuts through the north eastern end of the Chiltern Hills, and occupied a hill-top location with a drop-off of roughly 130 feet (40 meters) at the runway’s western end.

After the war, the land where Luton was was handed back to the local council, which then started commercial operations activity at the airport. Until the early 60s, the Percival Aircraft operated its factory at Luton.  From the mid-60s, the McAlpine Aviation operated executive aircraft initially at the airport.

Its activities have grown since then and now several executive jet operators as well as maintenance companies are already based at the airport accommodating aircrafts from across the world.

London Luton served as the operating base for several charter airlines including Dan-Air,  Euravia (which have now went on to becoming Thomson Airways, Autair (now Court Line), and Monarch.

Luton Airport became the most profitable airport in the UK in year 1972 although it suffered severe setbacks in the August of 1974 when its in-house Court airline  Line  (which operated local buses too) and main package holidays operator Clarksons were liquidated.

 London Luton Airport Parking & Hotels

In the 80s the Luton airport saw a decline in their number of passengers—a fact due to the lack of reinvestment. The council’s response was to revamp lobbying and to re-focus on the airport’s development, by first, running the airport independently through a distinct management team. Necessary infrastructure work then ensued as a result.

The next fifteen years saw progress in updates, which includes having a new international terminal, new cargo center, new control tower (complete with updated air traffic control system), runway upgrades, and automated baggage handling facilities .

Along with the development of basic infrastructure, several business partners were also encouraged and new business models deliberated. The entire process envisioned an airport railway station, a people-station-to-airport terminal mover (thus the unused underpass alongside the road when approaching the terminal), and a cargo centre.

In 1990, to re-emphasize the airport’s close proximity to the capital of UK, the airport was finally renamed to London Luton Airport. Another setback occurred in 1991 when Ryanair, which for a number of years had flown from the Luton airport to Ireland, had transferred its operating base in London to Stansted.

But in the late 90s, using the brand Airtours  and their all new cut-rate scheduled flights from EasyJet and  Debonair, MyTravel Group started charter flights from Luton airport, thus making London Luton its main base.

The council issued a concession contract spanning 30 years to London Luton Airport Operations Limited, a publicized private partnership consortium, in order to fund a £80 million airport extension in August 1997.

This was a partnership project of Barclays Private Equity and Airport Group International (AGI). AGI was a development company that Lockheed Martin Corp once owned and a premier specialist airport management entity. In 1999, AGI shares was sold to TBI plc, and in 2001 Barclay’s Luton shares were also sold to TBI plc.

In 1998, the development phase’s main feature was a £40 million worth of new terminal made from glass and aluminium, which was based on Foster and Partners’ original design.

The terminal houses baggage as well as flight information systems, a total of 60 check-in desks, plus a wide range of bars, shops, and restaurants. It was opened officially by Prince Philip and  Queen Elizabeth II in November 1999.

To the north of the runway lies all the airport’s facilities. The aprons and terminal has a rather unconventional layout, being its ground-side access into the terminal is through a road (going under the taxiway) to a bus stop, drop off area, short-term car park and taxi rank on the terminal building’s runway side.

Approximately 60 stands are available for aircraft and all these stands can be located on the terminal building’s northern side, distant from the runway but connected to it via a U-shaped suite of aprons and taxiways encircling the terminal all together.

The U-shaped apron’s north side is ringed by hangars and other buildings in a continuous line, which emphasizes how Luton is a major base for maintenance for several airlines that include Monarch,  EasyJet, and Thomson Airways.

Contrasting the heavily built-up apron area is the southern boundary of the airport which is wholly rural with just a few isolated farm houses/buildings close to the airport’s boundary.

The airport contains just one runway with a 7,087 ft (2,160 m) length at a 160 m (526 ft) elevation, and roughly running east to west. The runway is outfitted with Category IIIB rated Instrument Landing System (ILS), which allows the airport to continue operations even in conditions of poor visibility.

The airport remains owned by Luton Borough Council  in municipal ownership, but it is managed by the London Luton Airport Operations Limited (LLAOL) private sector. London Luton Airport has a (Number P835) Civil Aviation Authority Public Use Aerodrome licensing, allowing flights for flying instruction or for the passengers’ public transport.

An importance indicator of the airport to the Luton economy is that Luton has been reported to have gained the highest number of taxi cabs per head of the populace in the UK because of the airport.

 London Luton Airport Parking

A short-term car park is adjacent to the terminal, along with medium-term and long-term airport car parks to the western and eastern sides of the terminal respectively (also linked to the terminal via shuttle buses).

There are also available pre-booked off-airport parking provided by several independent operators.

The London Luton Airport lies a few miles distance away from the M1 motorway, running southbound to London, northbound to Leeds, and in connection to the M25 motorway.

Luton Airport Parking Charges: How to Save The Most on Parking

There are many reasons why leaving one’s car sitting at home while on vacation is not desirable: The major one is, of course, that it attracts thieves.

Leaving your car unattended during the day (when all of your neighbours are almost certainly at work) makes the car itself a target for theft, plus, people tend to break into sitting cars to look for valuables and loose change.

In addition to this, as your car sits, it will collect dirt and debris, giving it an obviously unused look which will signal to potential thieves that your home is currently unoccupied.

There are other (purely practical) reasons for choosing Luton airport parking services as well: They keep your car clean and maintained for you, they save you a great deal of time and hassle, and they may be necessary if you cannot plausibly make the trip to the airport from your home and back by any other means than your car.

At the same time, we all fear the sometimes shocking cost of airport parking; airport parking can be a major “cash grab” for airports, who often make more from parking and shopping than they do from actual flights. Fortunately for those looking to park at Luton airport, parking charges at Luton Airport are vastly more reasonable than they are at Heathrow, so with some careful planning and shopping around, you can secure your car without breaking the bank.

Get the Best Luton Airport Parking Deals: Three Key Tips

In order to ensure that your Luton airport parking experience is both economical and hassle-free, use the following four strategies:

• Book early. This, of course, is the “golden rule” of travelling—the earlier you book, the more you save. Plan your trip well in advance and make booking your parking at Luton one of the first things you do, as this can cut the cost of parking by up to a third, depending on when and where you’re booking (it varies with the season and type of parking you choose).

• Never just show up at the airport without booking your parking first. It happens to all of us at one time or another: In the hustle and bustle of planning our trip, we forget to book our parking.
• Trying to arrange parking while at the airport will, however, always cost you more than booking online, even if you book online on the same day as your flight. As stated prior, parking is one of the major ways airports make their money, so they will be the last people to help you get a good deal on your Luton Airport parking charges, so get on the web and book there, even if you have to do so from your smartphone while en route to the airport.
• Always check comparison sites for the best discounts. Websites like Compare Luton Airport Parking Charges. Com both save you hours of research trying to look up and compare parking services yourself, they also often have the benefit of commercial relationships with various parking operators, allowing them to offer the lowest prices of all on parking.
  

   

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• How Much is Parking at Luton Airport?

  Parking at Luton airport, if you use the strategies above, generally varies between approximately £50-100 per week, depending on which type of parking you choose. There are three different options to consider:

• Park and Ride Parking: This is the cheapest option available, but also the least convenient. When you use park and ride parking, you will park your car in a car park that is relatively close to the airport and then take a shuttle bus to the airport terminal itself.
• Meet and Greet Parking: This form of parking is also known as “valet parking”, and is often favoured by busy business travellers and those with mobility issues. When you use this kind of parking, you don’t have to worry about parking your car yourself—you just drive to the terminal at Luton Airport, where you will be met by a fully insured chauffeur (you’ll generally need to give the service a call to ensure they know when you will be arriving at the terminal). From there, he or she will take care of the rest, moving your car over to a secure car parking facility near to the airport.
• Luton On-Airport Parking: This form of parking is, as is suggested by the name, nearest to the Luton Airport terminal building itself, so you can just walk to the airports terminal without having to take a shuttle bus.

Let’s face it, getting to the airport can be difficult at the best of times. It’s easier if you take your own car and park it at the airport.

That way you can choose when you want to leave home rather than being at the mercy of taxis, buses or scheduled coach departure times. Parking charges Luton Airport are lowest when the stay is booked in advance, so if you book it at the same time as your holiday you’ll save more.

That means you’ll have more money to spend during your holiday too, which has to be a good thing.

Plus, you’ll have the satisfaction of having organised everything in one go – flights, hotel and parking.

One less thing to worry about and more time to concentrate on the important task of deciding what to pack.

What’s more, the price cost of Luton airport parking is easily available online, so budgeting for overhead costs is a breeze. Whether you’re flying off on holiday or travelling for business, that’s always important information.

Luton airport car parking charges, costs much more if you turn up on the day without a pre-arranged booking so it’s best to be organised.

Luton Airport has the benefit of being the favourite airport or base for a number of short haul airlines and is know for its short stay parking at Luton Airport.

The fact that there isn’t a huge time difference means it’s more convenient to leave your car at Luton, depart on holiday or business and, upon return, simply collect your car and drive home.

Having your car there can also save money on expensive late night taxi runs or an overnight wait for public transport. Luton airport parking prices are preferable to that, as a week’s parking booked in advance is less than a one way taxi trip.

It’s also cheaper to park at Luton than Gatwick or Heathrow and the airport has good road links from the M25 and M1.

Who wouldn’t fancy a cheeky week in Spain when it’s this easy to travel? So if your boss lets you, why not see if you can book some time off and have a change of scene?

A getaway from Luton is cheap and convenient and may be just what you need to reassess life from a different viewpoint. A change is as good as a rest, the saying has it. With the convenience and affordability of Luton airport flights and cheap parking charges at Luton Airport, you can have a change of scene and a rest all in one.

With all of the above in mind, you’ll be in good stead to both choose the parking type that is right for you and save as much on it as possible; if you’re thinking of flying from Luton in the foreseeable future, why not begin your parking price comparison today?

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Going on holiday is often exciting and usually fun, but travelling there and back can be exhausting, especially if your flight leaves early in the morning or arrives back late in the evening.

In that case you might want to look at Luton Airport hotel park and fly offers.

Staying in a hotel overnight before you fly means you’re at the airport on time, you can get the shuttle bus straight to the terminal and check in without fretting that you’ll miss your flight.

Staggering onto the shuttle bus back to the hotel at the end of your holiday means you only have a short journey before you can catch up on your sleep, then leave rested and refreshed for home the next day.

To find out about Luton Airport hotels with parking offers, the link from this site will take you through to the APH site. You will then be able to quickly and easily check your options for Luton Airport parking with hotel deals.

Often, parking is free or discounted when you purchase a park and fly deal involving a hotel stay, and it certainly reduces the stress on the day of your flight.

If you would prefer to read reviews by other customers before booking, the Parking Reviews tab offers Luton Airport hotels with Luton parking and hotel reviews. There have been almost 23,000 reviews in the last six months.

The vast majority of reviews are positive, the 500 or so negative reviews generally focus on cancelled flights, late shuttle buses and poor service from drivers.

When using Luton Airport parking and hotel services, it is advisable to leave plenty of time before your flight when catching the shuttle, as from experience, the buses can and do suffer delays at peak times, which can have a knock on effect if you’re cutting it fine for check-in.

The easiest way to approach any trip is to book well in advance, research your options for park and fly deals beforehand, leave plenty of time for your journey on the day of travel and check your route and directions before climbing into the car (paper maps, Google Earth and satnavs will help).

Above all, keep calm, as stressing about travel will only make it worse. That’s why Luton Airport hotels with parking offers are so good, because much of the stress of the trip can be diffused.

How Do I Make My Early-Morning Flight in Time?

A greater portion of the population is centralised around the London region, but since the Luton Airport is international, people from around the country also need solutions to getting to the airport.

Flights slowed down in the past year, but as we learn how to cope with the new health regulations, soon people will be able to travel where they wish with their new vaccine passports.

Driving is the most popular option in getting to the airport, as taking connecting flights adds additional costs to your travel budget, and the train can take extra time. But how can you make it work when you live so far away from London?

There are many hotels and parking at Luton Airport. You can drive from your city or town and stay at one of the cheap hotels at Luton Airport.

Also included in your hotel package will be the option to park at a Luton Airport Park and Fly.

Book a Hotel for Less Worry

Many people stress about having to get up early in the morning, then having a long drive to the airport.

The best solution is to find hotels with parking at Luton Airport. You can check in during the afternoon, enjoy your stay in the evening, then check out early in the morning.

Since you’re already at the airport you’ll only have a short trip to your flight departure gate. Now you won’t have to worry about missing your flight!

How to Find Cheap Hotels & Cheap Parking?

If you’ve booked your flights and are ready to complete the other reservations for your trip, then you can visit our Luton Airport Parking and Hotel Page. Here you will not only be able to book your Luton Airport Parking, but find offers for cheap hotels at Luton Airport. Here you’ll also find offers from hotels with parking at Luton Airport so you don’t have to go all over the web to find the best rates.

Book for Your Arrival

The expenses of a trip can certainly add up. You may want to consider not just your departure but also your arrival day.

Wouldn’t it be great to stay at a hotel for a well-deserved rest before heading home in the morning? All you to do is add one more day to your booking.

Perhaps you live in another country and are travelling to the Luton Airport. A long flight can be exhausting, and the last thing you want to do after you get off your flight is to hop on a train or get a cab.

Instead, book your rental car and have it ready to go for the next day. You can also find an affordable hotel with parking here too. Then the next morning you’ll be ready to head out to enjoy your vacation.

If you have an upcoming flight booked and are puzzled over how to handle an early morning flight, then we suggest that you visit the hotels and parking Luton Airport, to find both hotel and parking space.

You’ll save yourself a lot of time and effort by booking Luton long term parking today!

Park your car at the hotel (some companies move it offsite, some don’t) have a relaxing night in the hotel including a fancy meal in their restaurant if you wish, and catch a shuttle the next morning to the terminal. Couldn’t be simpler.

Take advantage of a Luton Airport hotel park and fly offer today. You’ll wonder why you ever travelled any other way.

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What is Luton Airport Parking Meet and Greet service?

Besides a standard ‘park and go’ service for holidaymakers, there is also an option for priority parking at Luton Airport.

This could be handy if you have a large party or a mountain of luggage, if you’re travelling with a disabled or elderly person, or even a young baby.

There are several companies which offer a Luton Airport meet and greet service; they all operate in a similar way, although the price can vary.

With the Luton Airport meet and greet service, after confirming your imminent arrival by phone, you are met in the designated area, the driver will help with unloading and make sure they have your details correctly recorded for the return journey.

The driver will expect to take your car keys only, no other keys, and will ask for your signature on the paperwork before you leave.

This is to confirm the state of the car as you currently see it and to indicate your agreement to the company’s terms and conditions. You can then catch your flight in the knowledge that your car should be kept safe and sound until you return.

On arrival back in the country, your Luton Airport parking meet and greet service will welcome you home with a text. After a confirmation phone call when you are ready to pick your vehicle up, the driver will bring your car to the designated area, help you load up and ask you to confirm that the car is as you left it with the company at the start of your holiday.

The reason for the phone calls to confirm arrival at the airport is that the drivers are limited to a waiting time of 10 minutes, so they need to know where you are before setting out to meet you.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Luton Airport parking meet and greet reviews are somewhat better than those for some of the simple ‘park and go’ services.

The charge to use the meet and greet area has caught some people off guard, and occasional delays have been reported at both pick up and drop off, but generally, users of this style of service seem happier than those who chose standard airport parking services.

Let Us Decrease the Stress of Your Luton Airport Departure

A flight has been called one of the most stressful events in life, though it’s rare that anything goes wrong. If you travel frequently then you’ve reached the point where you fully trust the pilot to get you safely to your destination.

If you’re new to flying, then the entire travel experience can stress you out.

Here are a few ways to help ease the anxiety and help you to have the best trip possible.

Having a great trip involves planning every aspect of your trip, from packing to how you’re getting to the airport. If you choose to drive your vehicle, then you’ll need to plan on where you’re going to leave it for the duration of your trip.

Book Priority Parking at Luton Airport Departure

If you’re driving into the airport from a long distance then you want somewhere to park your vehicle for a day or even up to several weeks, knowing that it will be safe.

Priority parking at Luton Airport will keep your vehicle safe on a fully secured parking lot that is monitored. Your car or truck can stay here while you hop on a shuttle to your departure gate at the airport.

You’ll be able to enjoy your business trip or your vacation, without having to worry about high fees or about your vehicle.

Book Luton Airport Meet and Greet

If you’re travelling to Luton Airport from another location in the UK, or from somewhere else in the world, then you may be searching for cheap Luton Airport parking.

You can book priority parking at Luton airport that includes a Luton Airport meet and greet. This means that when you get off your flight, get past security or Customs & Immigration, that there will be someone there with either your car rental, or your vehicle waiting in the loading zone with your keys.

This will save you time and aggravation, particularly after a long flight.

How to Find Cheap Luton Airport Parking?

If you’re ready to search for priority parking at Luton Airport then you may be curious as to how you can find your cheap Luton Airport parking?

You can visit our site here at Compare Luton Airport parking charges. There is access to over six different paid parking lots. You can enter in your arrival or departure dates and times, and receive a quote for your chosen trip.

We recommend that you immediately book for your chosen dates so that you avoid disappointment, as our parking lots do fill up fast, and we expect that this summer will be far busier than last year.

If you want one less thing to worry about when planning your next big trip then please visit our site to find parking at Luton Airport.

Even crossing one item off your travel to-do list will make you feel much happier. Once you’ve completed your business trip or vacation you’ll wonder why you never did this before! Check out our hotels and parking Luton Airport page.

For convenience, speed and that extra pair of hands when needed, using priority parking at Luton Airport seems like a good option.

It may well simplify your journey just when you need it to be smooth and easy – and who doesn’t like to be welcomed home at the end of a tiring flight?