​London Luton Airport lands two new airline partners

Vueling and Transavia respectively launch routes from LLA to Amsterdam, Barcelona and Paris

IAG subsidiary Vueling and Air France-KLM’s Transavia will both launch new routes from London Luton Airport (LLA) in 2016.

Vueling will operate 4 daily flights to Barcelona and Amsterdam while Transavia will offer 12 flights a week to Paris-Orly airport.

The carriers are the 5th and 6th new airlines to begin services from LLA in the last 12 months following the arrival of Air Nostrum, VLM, Sun Express and all-business-class boutique airline La Compagnie’s New York service. In November LLA recorded its 20th consecutive month of passenger growth which was up by 23.6% on the same month last year.

In addition, existing carrier Blue Air has also announced the introduction of new routes to Cyprus’s second city Larnaca and to Turin, Italy as part of its summer 2016 schedule.

Expanding LLA’s route and carrier network is a central part of the airport’s £110 million transformation. The redevelopment, which is already underway with contractors now working on site, will also see:

• An increase in capacity from 12 million passengers per year to 18 million by 2020
• A complete redesign of the terminal to create a quick, efficient, friendly and convenient passenger experience.
• Doubling of the existing retail space, introducing exciting shopping and dining options and a new £1 million executive lounge.
• A new multi-storey car park with 1,700 spaces.
• Major transport improvements including an overhaul of Junction 10a of the M1, the addition of overnight trains from London St Pancras and the introduction of Oyster card services through to the terminal building.

Nick Barton, CEO of LLA, commented: “The arrival of IAG’s Vueling and Air France-KLM’s Transavia is another major coup for LLA. We have now added 6 new airlines to our network in the past 12 months as well as seeing rapid growth in passenger numbers. With development underway our aim is to offer an ever wider choice of destinations and the best possible experience for our passengers.”

Fernando Estrada, Strategy Director of Vueling, commented: “LLA is proving an incredibly popular choice with passengers, with further improvements planned as part of its £110 million transformation plans. It was the natural choice for our new London-Amsterdam and London-Barcelona services.”

Hervé Kozar, Chief Commercial Officer of Transavia, commented: “The new flights from LLA to Orly – the closest airport to the centre of Paris – will offer one way fares from just €43 (£31*). Our new flights at LLA are a major milestone for Transavia as we establish our presence in the UK market.”[Ends]For more information please contact: pressoffice@ltn.aero

Notes to Editors

About Vueling

The prestigious trade journal Air Transport News has named Vueling this year's best low cost carrier.

The company was founded in July 2004, with a fleet of two Airbus A320, four routes, and a commitment to providing excellent customer service at competitive prices. Ten years later, Vueling operates on more than 360 routes to 155 destinations in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, with a fleet of more than 100 aircraft and 22 operational bases. It has carried more than 95 million passengers. Vueling is part of the International Airlines Group (IAG).

About Transavia

Transavia a member of the AIR FRANCE KLM Group, operates scheduled and charter flights to more than 110 destinations, primarily in Europe and Northern Africa. Transavia has nearly 50 years of experience and is the most affordable and accessible low-cost airline in Europe, with a strong focus on hospitality, service and digital services. Transavia offers an attractive basic price for both leisure and business travellers with additional (paid) products and services. Transavia carries 10 million passengers a year and operates with a young and environmentally friendly fleet. In the Netherlands, the company operates from Amsterdam, Rotterdam/The Hague, Eindhoven and Groningen and, in France, from Paris, Nantes and Lyon. For more information, visit www.transavia.com.