In the early hours of this morning London Luton Airport opened the first phase of its new £35 million Passenger Terminal Development.

London Luton is one of the UK's fastest growing airports, currently serving well over 8 million passengers per year and in the last 18 months has been able to announce no less than 27 new daily scheduled services to destinations throughout Europe.

To meet this burgeoning demand, in September 2004 the Airport embarked on an ambitious, £35 million project to provide its customers a dramatically enhanced travelling experience by providing spacious new state-of-the-art facilities.

These include a 7400m2 Departure Lounge & Retail / Catering complex, a 6-Gate, 200 metre long Boarding Pier and associated new Security, Immigration and Customs Halls.

The Departure Lounge & Retail Complex development is being undertaken within the 1st Floor of the existing main Passenger Terminal, an area which has lain 'fallow' since the building was officially opened by Her Majesty the Queen in November 1999.

Phase One of the development opened for business at exactly 04.30 hrs today with an informal ribbon cutting ceremony performed by the Airport's Managing Director Paul Kehoe, who was in the Terminal with his management team helping staff to prepare for the opening.

Work now continues towards the completion of the remaining Phases of the project with final completion in September.

http://www.london-luton.co.uk/en/news.asp?id=137

I took a walk round there myself last night as was impressed by what I saw, ill get some pics tomorrow when I go through on my way to Barcelona

Glenn