London Luton Airport (IATA: LTN, ICAO: EGGW) sits on the northern edge of the town of Luton in Bedfordshire, England. It is located about 30 miles (48 km) to the north of London and lies roughly 2 miles (3 km) from junction 10a of the M1 motorway. The airport is one of the principal airports serving the capital and is commonly counted after Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted in terms of passenger numbers.

Role and airlines

London Luton acts as an important base for several low-cost carriers and tour operators. It functions as a hub for a number of airlines, notably easyJet, TUI, Wizz Air and Ryanair. Most scheduled services operate to destinations across Europe, with a mix of year-round and seasonal routes.

Passenger traffic and ranking

Passenger volumes have varied over time; for example, in 2007 the airport handled approximately 9.93 million passengers, an increase on the previous year that made it one of the busiest in the United Kingdom at that time. It remains one of London's key airports and is counted among the city's five international facilities alongside other airports, including London City Airport.

Access and ground transport

The airport’s proximity to the M1 motorway provides road access for private vehicles, coaches and buses. Rail connections are available via Luton Airport Parkway station, with onward transfers to the terminal by shuttle bus or dedicated people-mover services. Ground transport options aim to serve both local travellers from Luton and the wider catchment area north of London.

In popular culture

Operations at the airport and the day-to-day work of staff and carriers based there have been featured in television series such as Airline and Luton Airport, which brought public attention to the facility and its passenger-handling processes.