Luton Airport's fire-ravaged car park set to reopen

The 2023 fire at Luton Airport's Car Park 2 started in a diesel vehicle

A multi-storey airport carpark that was destroyed by fire could reopen this autumn.

Fire ripped through Terminal Car Park 2 at London Luton Airport in October 2023, grounding aeroplanes, disrupting travel and causing hundreds of thousands of pounds in damage.

Progress on the rebuilt car park was revealed during a Luton Borough Council overview and scrutiny board meeting, which was discussing a review of the airport's sustainability report for 2024.

The airport's head of communications, Neil Bradford, told the board: "The topping out ceremony was in June, so we'll be opening that in the next few weeks."

"That will provide a further 1,900 parking spaces and will move the drop-off area closer to the terminal," he continued.

He added there would be a review of parking and drop-off operations "soon".

About 1,352 vehicles were destroyed in the fire

Presenting the report, planning consultant David Gurtler said: "A key target for the airport operator is to increase the number of next generation aircraft."

He explained that these made up 60% of the aircraft based at Luton and were more fuel-efficient and quieter than the older models.

The meeting was also told that passenger travel by sustainable modes was down from 38% in 2023 to 29% in 2024. The target is to reach 47% of passengers using sustainable travel by 2028.

Mr Gurtler said: "A drop of 9% is a concern, although this was partly because of the multi-storey car park fire in 2023.

"The drop-off zone was relocated, which was less convenient for people."

About 1,352 vehicles were destroyed in the blaze, which caused the building's partial collapse.

Although an investigation concluded the fire was accidental, a report from Bedfordshire Fire & Rescue Service found a sprinkler system could have changed or limited the fire.

The fire started in a diesel vehicle on the third flood of Car Park 2, but, because of wind blowing through the open-sided structure, it spread quickly.

Mr Bradford told the board: "It's been a difficult few years following the car park fire in terminal Car Park 2.

"But we responded really well as an organisation putting in temporary solutions," he explained.

"The car park has been rebuilt and is very near to completion."