Local passengers give Luton a boost
April marked the first time London Luton Airport handled 17 million passengers over a 12-month period.
A late Easter meant the airport experienced its busiest-ever April, when 1.5 million passengers travelled through its terminal, 10% more than in the same month last year.
The airport said there had been an increase in the number of local passengers from Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire, which make up 30% of its total traffic. In 2018, it saw an 11% rise in traffic from Hertfordshire alone.
Tel Aviv remains in the top five most popular destinations 10 years after Israeli airline El Al began operating from the airport. The airline welcomed its one millionth passenger from Luton last month. Other popular destinations over Easter included Budapest, Bucharest and Amsterdam.
Luton Airport CEO Alberto Martin said: "April marks a real milestone for the airport given we have served 17 million passengers over the last 12 months. We are also delighted to have welcomed a record number of local residents – we’re aware of the important role which we play in the local community and are always working to ensure that the benefits of our transformation are felt by everyone."
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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