The Luton Airport Transports is an international airport located 1.5 miles east of Luton, Bedfordshire, England, and 28 miles north of London's central business district. On July 16, 1938, Secretary of State for Air Kingsley Wood officially opened Luton Municipal Airport there. The airport sits on a hilltop, with a drop-off of about 40 meters (130 feet) at the western end of the runway, near the spot where the valley of the River Lea slices through the northeastern edge of the Chiltern Hills. Luton Airport, which is owned by the Borough of Luton, was a major northern hub for nearby London.
All airport facilities are located to the north of the runway. A road connects the terminal drop-off area to the bus stops, taxi stands, and short-term parking lots, all of which face south toward the runway—an unusual layout for a commercial airport. This road goes underground to reach the taxiways that run parallel to the runway from the western apron. A total of 60 hardstands are available for aircraft, in addition to 28 specialized gates. These parking areas are to the north of the terminal, away from the runway, and are linked to the runway by a 'U' shaped network of taxiways and aprons.
Furthermore, TUI Airways's headquarters are located there, and prior to its demise, Monarch Airlines and Monarch Group both had offices in Prospect House, also located on the airport's grounds.
