Luton-based easyJet has urged the new owners of the airport to improve facilities for passengers.
The fifth-largest airport in the UK changed hands in an expected deal worth £433 million yesterday.
Spanish owner Abertis offloaded Luton to a consortium led by minority shareholder Aena – Spain’s main airport operator – and AXA Private Equity.
The airport had been part of Abertis’s portfolio since 2005, when the company and Aena purchased the British operator TBI.
EasyJet UK commercial manager Hugh Aitken said: “As London Luton airport’s largest airline, easyJet bases a fleet of 15 aircraft on site serving 38 destinations across Europe, Northern Africa the Middle East and Iceland, carrying almost five million passengers each year on our easy and affordable flights.
“We look forward to working with Aena and AXA to deliver enhancements to London Luton airport which will result in sustainable growth, long-term development and an improved customer experience which will help the airport to reach its full potential.”
Luton handled 9.6 million passengers last year with flights offered by easyJet, Wizz Air, Ryanair, Monarch, Thomson, El Al, Blue Air, Flybe and Sun D’or.
Abertis last week announced that an agreement had been reached with US-based ADC & HAS Airports Worldwide for the the sale of Belfast International and Stockholm Skavsta airports, the terminal concessions for Orlando Sanford in Florida and TBI’s airport management business in the US for €284 million.