LUTON Airport is preparing to submit fresh expansion plans to its local council, just three months after opening its new £40m terminal.
Managers are to ask airport-owner Luton Borough Council for permission to extend the 7m-passenger capacity terminal within three years.
The airport expects to handle 5.2m customers this year but planned expansion from its biggest airline, EasyJet, is set to reach the 7m target by 2003.
It is expected 10m passengers will use the airport by 2010.
EasyJet accounts for 55% of Luton’s traffic and is planning new routes when additional aircraft are delivered this year (see story above).
Airport expansion will see more capacity built on to the new terminal to provide extra check-in desks and landside facilities. Plans are also being drawn up to provide departure areas upstairs in the new terminal.
In the meantime, airside catering, security and lounge facilities for passengers already checked in will be improved by the summer when the old terminal is refurbished for departures.
This terminal will eventually be demolished when new areas are opened within the £40m facility.
Investment worth £250m will come from a consortium, made up of airport owners TBI, Barclays Bank and engineers Bechtel Enterprises, which will run the airport for the next 30 years.
The consortium and the council are also looking to gain a £150,000 grant from the European Union to build a train line from Luton AirportParkway rail station into the terminal.