Airport Carparkz offer low cost parking for customers of Luton Airport. We understand that taking a flight takes time and organisation and for this reason we try to make things as easy for you as possible.
Simply pay by debit or credit card using our secure booking form and you'll receive confirmation via email for your ease of purchase, this gives you full directions to the car park along with your personal booking reference number. We offer a simple and secure online booking process. No gimmicks, just one low price. This philosophy extends to our parking, you simply turn up with your booking reference and park your vehicle. The courtesy mini-bus service will transport you to and from the airport on demand.
We believe that the security of your car to be the paramount so the car park is monitored 24 hours a day and is surrounded by perimeter fencing. You can be confident when booking with us that we will do our utmost to look after you, our customer and your vehicle.
London Luton Airport was officially opened on 16 July 1938 by the Right Honourable
Kingsley Wood, Secretary of State for Air. The airport was owned by the Borough
of Luton and was thought of as the northern terminal for London.
During the war, the airport was a base for 264 Fighter Squadron as well as a manufacturing
site where both civil and military aircraft were designed and built. In 1952, civil
use of the airport resumed and a new control tower was opened.
During the next ten years the 'package' holiday was developed and became very popular,
allowing many people to travel abroad for the first time. Luton airport played an
important role in the development of the package holiday business in the UK. The
formation of Euravia in 1962, now Britannia Airways, one of the world's largest
charter airlines was key to this development.
By 1969, a fifth of all holiday flights from the UK departed from Luton Airport
and by 1972 Luton had become Britain's most profitable airport. However, when in
1974 the major tour operator Clarksons and its airline Court Line went into Liquidation,
Luton was hit hard. The airport was still recognised as an integral part of the
London airports system though, and in 1978 the committee began preparations to take
Luton into the future and raise passenger levels to 5 million a year. In 1985 a
new international terminal building was opened by HRH The Prince of Wales.
1986 saw Monarch Crown Service launch scheduled flights to Spain and Irish airline
Ryanair launch scheduled services from Luton to Ireland. This marked the growth
of scheduled air services from Luton which represent over 70 per cent of their business.
In 1987 Luton International Airport became a Limited Company with Luton Borough
Council as sole shareholder. The airport was renamed London Luton Airport in 1990
to mark its position as part of the London airport network, but decline in passenger
numbers struck again in 1991 as Ryanair moved a large part of its business to Stansted
airport.
In 1991 an unsuccessful attempt was made to sell the airport and a new management
team was appointed to stop the losses and try and improve passenger numbers. The
new management team was to run the airport on a commercial basis and produce benefits
to the Borough by developing new business and employment. Over the next 5 years
£30 million was invested in the airport infrastructure and facilities were
significantly improved.
These upgraded facilities included a new air traffic control tower, new cargo centre,
the extension and refurbishment of the passenger terminal, new access road, extension
of the car parking adjacent to the passenger terminal and the installation of Category
3 Instrument Landing System.
Business increased during this period with the introduction of Airtours flights
and the low cost scheduled airlines easyjet and Debonair. Passenger levels increased
rapidly with 3.4 million in 1997/8 and rising again to 4.4 million by 1998/9 making
London Luton the UK's fastest growing major airport.
In order to expand further, London Luton Airport signed a unique private-public
partnership in 1998 to secure financial investment for the future. This meant the
airport remained publicly owned by Luton Borough Council but was to be managed and
developed by a new private consortium.
An £80 million development programme was completed in Autumn 1999 giving the
airport a £40 million terminal with 60 check-in desks, modern baggage and
flight information systems and a wide range of shops, restaurants and bars which
was officially opened in November 1999 by HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.
As well as the new terminal, the airport's parallel taxiway was extended; new widened
aircraft stands were constructed; the taxiway linking the runway and east apron
was improved and car park facilities were upgraded. At the end of 1999 Railtrack
opened the £23 million London Luton Parkway station making the journey to
central London less than 30 minutes.
The terminal was refurbished further in 2000 with improvements to the departures
and arrivals area, baggage reclaim facilities and new retail and catering outlets.
During 2001 6.3 million passengers passed through London Luton Airport and this
figure continues to grow as the demand for inclusive/package holidays increases
at the UK's 7th largest airport.
(The above article was provided by Luton Airport Guide)
