FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE – London Luton Airport has received government approval to nearly double its annual passenger capacity to 32 million by 2043, including the construction of a new terminal.
The decision came despite a recommendation from the Planning Inspectorate urging Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander to reject the plans due to environmental concerns.
Luton Rising, the airport’s owner, said the expansion would deliver “significant economic, employment and social benefits” for the local community. However, environmental activists criticized the move, warning that increasing air traffic by 70,000 flights annually could worsen climate change.
The airport was the UK’s fifth busiest last year, serving 16.9 million passengers on 132,000 flights.