London Luton Airport (LLA) has announced the appointment of its new Chair of the Board, Lord John Hutton.
Lord Hutton is set to oversee the next phase of the airport’s development, and has joined in the wake of the Transport Secretary’s recent decision to approve increases in annual passenger capacity at the airport from 19 to 32 million passengers over the course of the next 18 years.
The airport, which has seen growth from 10 million in 2013 to 18 million in 2025, will now seek to secure the next phase of LLA’s partnership between its owner, Luton Rising, and airport operator Aena & InfraBridge, to ensure the acceleration of all proposed capacity expansions.
Having served for 18 years as the Member of Parliament for Barrow and Furness; Lord Hutton’s political career included appointments in both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown’s Cabinets as Secretary of State for Defence, Secretary of State for Business, and Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. He was also instrumental in actioning initiatives on pension reform, including spending time as Chair of the Independent Public Service Pensions Commission. Lord Hutton has also been a member of the House of Lords since 2010.
Commenting on his appointment, Lord Hutton said:I am proud to become Chair of LLA – an asset of national importance and a prime example of the public-private partnership model working for the benefit of local communities and public and private shareholders.
I look forward to working with the airport, Luton Rising, Luton Council, and our partners to chart the next phase of this partnership to realise the huge, shared ambition we have for Luton.
Alberto Martin, Chief Executive Officer at LLA, said:Lord Hutton is a great addition to the Board, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience for the exciting period ahead. I look forward to working together, in collaboration with Luton Rising, to make the expansion plans a reality as soon as possible and to continue delivering exceptional outcomes for passengers, partners, and the community.
