London Luton Airport (LLA) passengers travelling via the Luton Airport Express are set to benefit from revamped facilities and even more enjoyable journeys, as the service operator, East Midlands Railway (EMR), embarks on a £27.6 million train refurbishment programme, as the service celebrates its first birthday. 
 
The upgrade will see the fleet of electric class 360 Luton Airport Express trains refurbished with new 2+2 seating in a mixture of airline style and bay seats, as well as expanded luggage racks and new charging points and passenger information systems. 
 
Over 530,000 passengers have used the Luton Airport Express service since its launch and link with the Luton DART 12 months ago.  
 
Alberto Martin, CEO of London Luton Airport, commented: “The Luton Airport Express service has brought London Luton Airport even closer to central London, with a faster, more frequent and more convenient service that, including the Luton DART, takes around 30 minutes door-to-door. This investment from EMR is exciting news and will deliver an enhanced on-board passenger experience, with improved interiors and modernised technology, strengthening the appeal of rail as a sustainable travel option for passengers travelling to and from the airport.” 
 
Will Rogers, Managing Director of East Midlands Railway, said: “This multi-million-pound investment is fantastic news for Luton Airport Express passengers and will redefine their travel experience, offering them more convenience, comfort and better facilities. We have seen the number of passengers grow by more than 40 percent since the service linked up with the DART 12 months ago, providing a faster, more convenient and environmentally friendly way to get to and from London Luton Airport.” 
 
Last month, the Luton DART also celebrated its first anniversary, with news the fully electric automated people mover has transported over 2.7 million passengers between Luton Airport Parkway railway station and the terminal in that time. 
 
Alberto Martin commented: “The DART underlines the way in which London Luton Airport and the airport owner, Luton Rising, are working together to drive more sustainable travel to and from the airport. In its first year of operation, the DART has achieved 16.2% modal share for passengers travelling to the airport and, alongside the Luton Airport Express, is playing an integral role in transforming LLA’s connectivity, making the end-to-end passenger experience from train to plane even more simple, friendly and convenient.” 

Nick Platts, Luton Rising Managing Director, said: “The Luton DART has already proved a huge hit with passengers and is encouraging more and more travellers to get to and from our airport by train wherever possible, reducing the impact of car journeys on our roads. Every passenger using London Luton Airport and the Luton DART means more support for services in Luton, and vulnerable people in particular, who most need the help we fund through our unique £7.4m annual contribution to local voluntary, community and charitable organisations.”
 
-Ends- 
 
Notes to Editors
•    The Luton Airport Express leaves every 30 minutes from early morning until late from Monday to Saturday, with regular services on Sundays
•    Constructed and operated by Luton Council’s airport company, Luton Rising, the Luton DART is an innovative cable-hauled fast passenger transit system connecting Luton Airport Parkway mainline railway station with the London Luton Airport terminal in under four minutes

About London Luton Airport

London Luton Airport (LLA) is one of the UK’s busiest airports, carrying over 16.2 million passengers in 2023.

The airport is operated by a consortium, of which the majority shareholder is AENA, the world’s largest airport operator, and InfraBridge, a leading infrastructure investment manager. Airlines include easyJet, Wizz Air, Ryanair, Tui, FlyOne, Sun Express and El Al.

The Luton Airport Express is a new dedicated train service that allows passengers to travel from central London to the LLA terminal in around 30 minutes. The Luton Airport Express runs from St Pancras International to Luton Airport Parkway station and connects seamlessly with the DART, an electrically powered people mover that connects to the airport terminal in less than four minutes.

In 2023, LLA was named the UK’s best airport by readers of the prestigious Condé Nast Traveller magazine. 

Last year, LLA also became only the third major UK airport to achieve Level 4 of the globally recognised Airport Carbon Accreditation scheme, demonstrating that it is ‘transforming its operations to achieve carbon reductions in line with global climate goals’. With a maximum score of 100 and a five-star rating, LLA has been ranked as a sector leader for two consecutive years in the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) benchmark of sustainability governance management and performance of major infrastructure assets worldwide.

To learn about the progress London Luton Airport is making across its sustainability programme please click here 

Further information on London Luton Airport can be found here: https://www.london-luton.co.uk/

Contact Details:

London Luton Airport Press Office 
T: 01582 395333
E: pressoffice@ltn.aero

London Luton Airport – PR agency:
E: LLA@tinmancomms.com

URL: https://mediahub.london-luton.co.uk/news/16042024/major-upgrade-for-luton-airport-express