With a busy Christmas week on the horizon, London Luton Airport (LLA) has recreated an iconic scene from one of the UK’s favourite Christmas films to launch an extravagant airside gift-wrapping service.

With thousands of wrapped presents screened, opened and searched as part of airport security checks every year, LLA is reminding passengers to arrive at the airport with their presents unwrapped this Christmas. 

To ensure passengers reach their destination with their gifts under wraps, the airport teamed up with Rowan Atkinson lookalike Nigel Dixon to launch the service with a parody of the Love Actually scene in which overzealous store ‘artiste’ Rufus gives a masterclass in elaborate gift wrapping.

In a nod to the film’s comedic scene, the service includes gift wrap paper, tags, adorning ribbons and various festive extras including dried flowers, cinnamon sticks and lavender. The bespoke wrapping paper features a snowflake motif made from an aeroplane formation to provide a final flourish for passengers’ gift packages. 

The service, which runs on 21st December, comes as almost two-fifths (38%) of travellers claim to have never come across airport guidance advising against packing gift-wrapped presents, while one in five (22%) are unaware of additional screening requirements for wrapped presents. 

Snow globes, crackers, marzipan, mincemeat and brandy butter - which may surprise people to be classed as a liquid - are the most confiscated festive items, much to the surprise of almost a third (30%) of passengers unaware of airport security advice against packing festive items in their luggage. 

Although the arrival of next-generation technology at LLA next year will remove some of these restrictions, LLA is offering some tips as a friendly reminder to help journeys go as simply and smoothly as possible this Christmas:

-    No globes - As the liquid content isn’t stipulated on these items, you cannot take in hand luggage. Pack securely in checked luggage instead.
-    Crack down on crackers - whilst not universally banned as a travel item, different airlines have different policies on bringing crackers on board. So, be sure to check your airline’s policy before you fly!  
-    Contra-brandy butter - you might not think it, but brandy butter is classed as a liquid and subject to confiscation if over the 100ml limit. Same goes for mincemeat and chutneys. So best to keep all your edibles and spreadables in checked luggage or safe at home to avoid disappointment. 

Clare Armstrong, Head of Guest Experience at London Luton Airport said: “Given the high number of wrapped presents we see in security each year, we realised many of our passengers are unaware of the possibility that they may need to be opened for inspection. So, the idea for our gift wrap service was born to create a fun experience for passengers, while minimising any unwanted delays or stress when travelling this festive season.

We’re always looking for ways to help passengers have the most simple and friendly experience at the airport and pre-empt any challenges they might face - particularly over Christmas and the new year when we will welcome 240,000* departing passengers to the terminal”
 
LLA’s gift-wrapping service will be available to passengers on Thursday 21st December in Aelia Duty Free.

-Ends-

Notes to Editors
*) Internal LLA data for expected travellers from Friday 22nd December to Monday 1st January. 

Survey of 2,000 nationally representative British adults who travel by plane, carried out by OnePoll between 6th – 12th December 2023

About London Luton Airport
London Luton Airport (LLA) is one of the UK’s busiest airports, carrying over 13 million passengers in 2022.

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.

This year, LLA has been named as the UK’s best airport by readers of the prestigious Condé Nast Traveller magazine. 

LLA is 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’.

The airport has been ranked as a sector leader for a second consecutive year in the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) assessment for sustainability governance and performance. LLA achieved a maximum score of 100 and a five-star rating across all aspects of the internationally recognised sustainability framework that benchmarks ESG 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/19122023/luton-actually