Jazmin Li
London is home to six airports, including London Stansted and London Luton, which are the fourth and fifth busiest airports in the UK, respectively. Luton Airport is popular with private jets and has one terminal and one runway. Stansted Airport is Ryanair's largest hub and has one terminal with several satellite terminals. This paragraph will explore which of the two airports is bigger in terms of passenger traffic and other factors.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Passenger traffic ranking in the UK | Stansted: 4th busiest airport in the UK; Luton: 5th busiest airport in the UK |
| Passenger volume in 2023 | Stansted: 27,951,291; Luton: 16,403,784 |
| Passenger volume in 2019 | Stansted: 22.5 million+; Luton: 16.8 million |
| Passenger volume in 2015 | Stansted: 22.5 million+; Luton: 12 million+ |
| Number of terminals | Stansted: 1; Luton: 1 |
| Number of runways | Stansted: >1; Luton: 1 |
| Train access | Stansted: Yes; Luton: No |
| Location | Stansted: Northeast of London; Luton: North of London |
| Main airlines | Stansted: Ryanair, easyJet; Luton: easyJet, Wizz Air |
| Main destinations | Stansted: European; Luton: European |
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What You'll Learn
Luton Airport is smaller and handles fewer passengers
London Stansted and London Luton airports are two of the six airports serving London. London Stansted is the fourth busiest airport in the UK, while London Luton comes in fifth. In 2023, Stansted handled 27,951,291 passengers, while Luton served 16,403,784 passengers. Luton Airport is smaller and handles fewer passengers than Stansted.
London Stansted Airport is based northeast of London. It is a hub for low-cost European airlines, with budget airlines like Ryanair and easyJet offering flights to and from the airport. Stansted's single terminal, along with its satellite terminals, caters predominantly to European destinations. In 2015, the airport transported over 22.5 million passengers, a number that grew to 27.95 million by 2023.
London Luton Airport, located north of London, is another airport that primarily handles flights to European destinations. It is a popular choice for both business and leisure travellers due to its proximity to London. Luton Airport has one terminal that is surrounded by taxiways, and a single runway. While it does not have a train station on-site, passengers can take a bus to Luton Airport Parkway and then travel to Central London, which takes around 40 minutes on average. In 2020, Luton Airport handled 16.8 million passengers, which was around 9% of London's total passenger traffic for that year. In 2023, the passenger volume increased to 16.4 million.
Luton Airport's smaller size and lower passenger volume compared to Stansted offer some advantages. Smaller airports often benefit from shorter queues and faster security checks. However, they may also have certain drawbacks, such as limited flight destinations and less frequent flight schedules. Despite being smaller and handling fewer passengers, Luton Airport remains a significant hub for international air travel and plays a crucial role in serving travellers to and from London.
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Stansted is Ryanair's largest hub
London Stansted Airport is the fourth busiest airport in the UK, and the third busiest in London. It is a major hub for low-cost carriers, handling 27.95 million passengers in 2023.
In 2013, Stansted entered into a 10-year agreement with Ryanair, which included reduced airport charges and growth in traffic. This deal helped the airport recover around 5 million annual passengers within three years. By November 2015, Stansted saw a total passenger movement of 23 million.
Ryanair has continued to expand its presence at Stansted, with 139 routes planned from the airport in 2021. The airline also snapped up 296 of easyJet's slots at Stansted for its winter schedule that year. With a firm hold on both summer and winter slots, Ryanair is likely to retain its position as the leading airline at Stansted for the coming years.
Stansted's single terminal and satellite terminals, large cargo presence, and proximity to Central London (around 45 minutes away by train) make it a convenient and crucial hub for Ryanair's operations.
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Luton is popular with private jets
London Stansted Airport and London Luton Airport are the fourth and fifth busiest airports in the UK, respectively. While Stansted Airport is larger than Luton Airport, Luton Airport is popular with private jets.
London Luton Airport handles a significant number of private jet flights, with almost 30,000 private flights recorded in 2022. The airport's popularity with private jets is not a new phenomenon, as it was the UK's busiest airport for private jet charters in the 2016-17 financial year. Several factors contribute to its appeal for private jet operators and passengers.
One key advantage of Luton Airport for private jets is its 24-hour access, allowing for flexible and spontaneous travel plans. The airport also boasts a relatively long runway, measuring 2,160 meters (7,087 feet), which can accommodate a wide range of aircraft types. Luton Airport is home to Fixed Base Operators (FBOs), such as Harrods Aviation and Signature Aviation, providing exclusive terminals and facilities for private jet passengers.
The airport's location plays a significant role in its popularity with private jets. Luton Airport is situated north of London, offering convenient access to the capital city. This proximity to London allows celebrities, politicians, and other high-profile individuals to travel discreetly to and from the city. The airport's layout also contributes to its appeal, with a single terminal surrounded by taxiways, enhancing the ease of navigation for private jet passengers.
Luton Airport has made continuous improvements to cater to the needs of private jet passengers. The Aspire Executive Lounge offers a range of amenities, including relaxation spaces, Wi-Fi, magazines, restaurants, and complimentary food and beverages. Additionally, the airport has invested in the DART air-rail link, enhancing the overall travel experience for all passengers.
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Stansted has one terminal
Stansted Airport, located northeast of London, is the fourth busiest airport in the UK and the third busiest in London. It is also one of London's six airports. In 2023, Stansted handled 27,951,291 passengers, predominantly to and from European destinations. Stansted is a crucial hub for low-cost air travel in the UK, with a large cargo presence. It is also the largest base for Ryanair.
In comparison, Luton Airport, another London-based airport, is the fifth busiest airport in the UK and the fourth busiest in London. It handled 16,403,784 passengers in 2023. Luton Airport also has one terminal, surrounded by taxiways. Luton Airport is popular with private jets and is also used by budget airlines.
London's other airports include Heathrow, Gatwick, Southend, and London City Airport. Heathrow is the largest airport in the UK and Europe by passenger volume, handling over 83 million passengers annually. Gatwick is the second-largest airport in the UK and has two terminals, North and South. Southend Airport has one terminal and one runway and is the smallest of London's airports, handling just 1.5 million passengers in 2019.
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Luton is north of London
London Stansted Airport and London Luton Airport are two of the six airports in London, with Stansted being the third busiest London airport and Luton coming in fourth. Stansted is the fourth busiest airport in the UK, while Luton is the fifth busiest. In 2023, Stansted catered to 27,951,291 passengers, while Luton served 16,403,784 passengers.
Luton is a town and borough in Bedfordshire, England, situated about 32 miles (50 km) north-west of London. The town is built on the River Lea, from which it derives its name. Luton is classified as a unitary authority and has been since 1997, with a single tier of local government: Luton Borough Council. The town has good links with London and other parts of the country via rail and major roads, such as the M1 and the A6. Luton has three railway stations: Luton, Leagrave, and Luton Airport Parkway, served by East Midlands Railway and Thameslink services.
The town's foundation dates back to the sixth century as a Saxon settlement on the River Lea. Luton was recorded in the Domesday Book as Loitone and Lintone. Luton was once known for hat-making and had a large Vauxhall Motors factory, which closed in 2002. Today, Luton's economy is focused on the service sector, particularly in retail and the airport sector, although there is still some light industry.
Luton is situated in a gap at the far east of the Chiltern Hills. It is the most populous settlement in Bedfordshire, followed by Bedford. Luton forms a conurbation with the town of Dunstable, located on the opposite side of the M1 motorway, and also includes Houghton Regis. Luton is surrounded by several notable towns and cities, including St Albans, Stevenage, Aylesbury, Bedford, Milton Keynes, and Cambridge.
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Frequently asked questions
No. Luton Airport is the fourth busiest of London's six airports, while Stansted is the third busiest London airport and the fourth busiest British airport. Stansted also catered to more passengers in 2023, handling 27,951,291 passengers compared to Luton's 16,403,784.
Luton Airport facilitated travel for 16,403,784 passengers in 2023.
Stansted handled 27,951,291 passengers in 2023.
London Heathrow Airport is the largest airport in the UK and Europe by passenger volume.
