The operator of Luton Airport has published an alternative expansion plan following a blueprint produced by its council owners.

Passenger numbers are expected to rise from the present annual total of 10 million to between 14 – 16 million by 2020.

The new plans seek to turn Luton into “London’s local airport”.

The plans include improvements to the terminal building through the construction of a new pier, and a new layout which can be achieved through minor extension works that won’t disrupt the running of the Airport.

Plans also include extending the taxiway to increase the number of aircraft movements, creating new aircraft stands, and upgrading existing ones;

And finally, constructing two new traffic lanes to the south of “Airport Way”, leading into a newly created set down system in the Central Terminal Area, would be expected to ease congestion and manage growth in the future.

Glyn Jones, Managing Director of London Luton, said, “The Mayor of London has proposed a new hub in the Thames Estuary to deal with the constraints on medium and long haul aviation capacity in London and the South East.

“Today we have outlined a credible and realistic plan that, if approved, will put Luton at the heart of solving the burden on point-to-point short haul operators who want to grow.”