London Luton Airport (LLA) has appointed Lord John Hutton as chair of the board to oversee the next phase of the airport’s development.
Lord John Hutton’s career
Hutton served for 18 years as the member of parliament for Barrow and Furness. His political career included roles 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 led initiatives on pension reform, including as chair of the Independent Public Service Pensions Commission, and multiple business and enterprise policies in order to boost UK competitiveness. He has been a member of the House of Lords since 2010.
After leaving frontline politics, Hutton chaired trade associations Make UK and Energy UK and is the chair of the Association of Infrastructure Investors in Public Private Partnerships, an organization established to represent PFI investors.
Commenting on his appointment, 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 realize the huge, shared ambition we have for Luton.”
Graeme Ferguson, head of airports at InfraBridge, said, “We’re pleased to welcome Lord Hutton to the board of LLA. His deep experience across both government and the private sector will be invaluable as the airport enters its next phase of growth. We look forward to working closely with him – his background is a strong complement to our long-standing commitment to the UK, where we continue to invest significantly in national transport and digital infrastructure.”
London Luton Airport’s expansion
Hutton joins the board right after the UK transport secretary’s decision to approve an increase in annual passenger capacity at the airport, from 19 million to 32 million passengers over the next 18 years. Hutton will help secure and support the next phase of LLA’s public-private partnership between Luton Rising and LLA’s airport operator, Aena and InfraBridge, to ensure the benefits of expansion are realized as soon as possible.
Alberto Martin, CEO of LLA, added, “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.”
Rodrigo Marabini Ruiz, director of international subsidiaries at Aena, stated, “Luton Airport has one of the most ambitious and economically impactful expansion plans and its benefits will be felt both locally and nationally. As the world’s largest operator with over 430 million passengers a year using our international airports, Aena stands ready to work with the council to implement these plans now that the UK government have firmly backed Luton Rising’s DCO. In this endeavour, we welcome Lord Hutton’s expertise and guidance to help make these plans a reality.”
In related news, London Luton Airport (LLA) recently revealed its 2025 travel trend predictions, drawn from a survey of 2,000 UK adults and their evolving holiday habits. Click here to read the full story.