Luton Airport now supports a record 14,000 directly-linked jobs in the area, according to its newly published 2024 sustainability report.
The report outlines the airport’s ongoing efforts to deliver positive impacts for local communities and to reduce environmental harms such as carbon emissions and aircraft noise.
Highlighting its position as a major economic engine for Luton and the surrounding area, the report reveals that 60 per cent of the airport’s supply chain spending last year went to more than 320 local businesses within a 25-mile radius. That spend totalled £110 million, reinforcing the airport’s role as a significant contributor to the regional economy.
Alberto Martin, Luton Airport’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “As one of the UK’s busiest airports, London Luton Airport is ideally positioned to drive economic growth, support local communities and create meaningful and enduring opportunities for local people. Our partnership with the airport owner, Luton Rising, is a shining example of the public-private ownership model, with each passenger helping Luton Rising provide industry-leading community investment which has exceeded £500 million. Now, with the owner’s scheme for long-term sustainable growth consented by the Government, there are even greater opportunities ahead for the airport, including the creation of up to 11,000 new jobs and an additional £1.5 billion in annual economic benefits by the mid-2040s.”
On environmental progress, the report notes that 60 per cent of aircraft based at the airport are now classed as the cleanest and quietest ‘next generation’ models, while carbon emissions from the airport’s own operations have fallen by 27 per cent since 2019.
More than four-fifths of waste is now recycled, and significant investment has been made in low-carbon vehicles and sustainable transport around the site. Luton Airport has also achieved Level 4 Airport Carbon Accreditation, a benchmark recognising alignment with global climate goals.
David Vazquez, Head of Sustainability, said: “As a major airport in the UK, London Luton Airport recognises the responsibility to support our neighbours and local communities in socially impactful ways, including the decarbonisation of our operations and our encouragement to all airport partners to do the same. The airport’s approach to responsible growth is guided by core principles of collaboration, transparency and innovation and a commitment to making our sustainability principles a core part of our organisational culture.”
On the social side, the airport’s contribution to the economy last year totalled £830 million, and over £180,000 was donated through its Community Trust Fund and Greener Future Fund, supporting more than 19,000 local people. Over half of the airport’s new hires this year came from LU1 to LU7 postcodes, and staff and partners have raised more than £300,000 for two key charities over the past four years.
Nick Platts, Managing Director of Luton Rising, the Luton Council-owned company behind the airport, said: “It’s vital that our successful partnership with the operator takes an approach to sustainability that goes beyond environmental considerations, so it’s great to see the ongoing achievements already being delivered year-on-year. For us, as the owner, what matters most is the ability to continue growing a successful airport eco-system for Luton and the region, with economic and employment growth generating industry-leading support for community services and vulnerable people.
“Our consented scheme for the airport’s future growth to a new capacity of 32 million passengers per year includes unique commitments to limiting environmental impacts and further increasing the provision we make to supporting people’s lives in the decades ahead.”
The full 2024 Sustainability Report is available here.
