A humanitarian hub has been set up at London Luton Airport to provide practical support for air passengers arriving from war-torn Ukraine.

Organised by Bedfordshire’s Local Resilience Forum which brings together partners such as local authorities, NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups, emergency services, the charity and voluntary sector and the airport, the hub operates by providing a warm welcome to those suffering the trauma of being uprooted from their homeland.

At the hub arrivals are greeted by volunteers from the Bedfordshire and Luton Emergency Volunteers Executive Committee, British Red Cross and the Airport Chaplaincy.

As well as a friendly face, refreshments are provided, while advisers are able to give guidance for onward travel within the UK. Paramedics from the Hearts First Ambulance Service are also on hand to provide mental and physical health support information.

A whole array of advice, information and useful contact numbers from local and national agencies is available for the arrivals, many of whom are bewildered and confused by recent events and facing a very uncertain future.

Whole families are arriving and children in particular are comforted, not just to see the familiar colours of the Ukrainian flag in the reception area, but to see some heart-felt artwork designed by Luton’s Surrey Street Primary, Cardinal Newman Catholic and Queen Elizabeth schools.

Alberto Martin, CEO at London Luton Airport said:  “As an international airport we help to connect cultures, places and people, so it has been heart breaking to witness events unfold in Ukraine. We are proud of the support we provide to our communities and are glad we can play a small part in ensuring a warm welcome to Ukrainian families as they arrive in the UK”.

Councillor Aslam Khan, Deputy Leader, Luton Council, said: “Once again Luton and the wider region has stepped up to the plate at a moment of great crisis and deep tragedy. In a short space of time many different organisations have come together and been working around the clock to provide a warm welcome and practical support to those whose lives have been violently disrupted by the Russian invasion of their country. As it did when establishing a testing site during the Covid pandemic, London Luton Airport has underlined its role as our community airport by hosting this vital point of refuge."

Further information on Bedfordshire councils’ support for Ukrainian refugees can be found below:

Luton Council – Supporting Ukraine

Central Bedfordshire Council – Ukraine

Bedford Borough Council – Ukraine Crisis

About London Luton Airport:                                                                                                                                        

London Luton Airport (LLA) is one of the UK’s busiest airports despite Covid-19, carrying 58 million passengers in the past five years.

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

LLA was the first UK airport to receive the Airport Health Accreditation from Airports Council International (ACI) for health and hygiene measures introduced during the pandemic.

Passengers travelling by rail can reach the airport via a half-hourly express rail service which operates between London and Luton Airport Parkway. In addition, work is nearly complete on a £225 million light rail system linking the airport with Luton Airport Parkway station. The project is being delivered by the airport owners, Luton Rising – a company owned by Luton Council.

LLA is awaiting final approval to raise its annual passenger cap by 1 million, to 19 million. It will not require any physical changes or new construction at the airport and will prepare the airport to support the recovery of the local and national economy as demand for travel returns.

Contact Details:

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

URL: https://mediahub.london-luton.co.uk/news/30032022/ukraines-refugees-face-a-warm-welcome-at-london-luton-airport