London Luton Airport is preparing for its busiest day on record next Friday 29 May, with officials expecting approximately 33,000 departing passengers. The surge in activity is driven by a unique combination of half-term holidaymakers and thousands of football fans travelling to Budapest for the UEFA Champions League Final.
Airport management has confirmed that operations are fully prepared for the milestone. To accommodate the significant rise in demand, Wizz Air has doubled its flight schedule between London and Budapest, operating eight services on Friday 29 May and six on Saturday 30 May. These flights will carry supporters heading to the Puskás Aréna, where Arsenal FC has been allocated 16,824 tickets for their match against Paris Saint-Germain.
The record-breaking Friday serves as the peak of a busy half-term period. The airport forecasts that 600,000 passengers will pass through the terminal between 22 May and 31 May.
“The team is well prepared and truly excited for the busiest day in the airport’s history,” said Clare Armstrong, Head of Guest Experience at London Luton Airport. “Plans are in place, and our teams are all prepped to ensure a smooth, simple and friendly passenger experience for all those travelling on the day and across the half-term week.”
In addition to managing the immediate influx of travellers, the airport has continued its programme of on-site improvements. Recent visitors will note the opening of a new Sainsbury’s Local, which marks the first time the supermarket chain has opened a store at an English airport.
This period of high growth follows a significant development for the airport’s future. In April 2025, the UK Government approved expansion plans that will increase the facility’s capacity from 18 million to 32 million passengers annually. This expansion project is projected to create up to 11,000 new jobs and inject an additional £1.5 billion into the local economy each year.
The airport currently remains a vital economic driver for the region, supporting 28,000 jobs and contributing £830 million annually to the Bedfordshire economy. Operations are overseen by London Luton Airport Operations Ltd, a consortium comprising AENA and InfraBridge. The airport is owned for community benefit by Luton Rising, a company wholly owned by Luton Council, which has invested over £500 million in local public services since 1998.
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