London Luton Airport (LLA) – a Corporate Partner of the FTE Digital, Innovation & Startup Hub – has selected Lagardère Travel Retail to operate its duty free stores under a 10-year contract beginning on 1 November 2026.
Under the terms of the agreement, Lagardère Travel Retail will operate a significantly extended duty free retail space across the terminal, rising from the current 2,530sqm to 3,340sqm, enhancing the shopping experience for passengers travelling through the airport.
“London Luton Airport has partnered with Lagardère Travel Retail since 2005, a 20-year period that has seen passenger numbers at the airport climb from around 9 million to almost 18 million this year,” said Mark Jennings, Head of Retail and Surface Access, London Luton Airport. “Throughout this period, Lagardère Travel Retail has demonstrated its strategic credentials, offering even greater choice through the introduction of exciting luxury and affordable international brands, whilst delivering gold standard service based on strong experiential and promotional engagement. Our continued collaboration with Lagardère Travel Retail follows a highly competitive tender process, delivered with the support of the airport owner Luton Rising and under the stewardship of shareholders AENA and Infrabridge, in which the winning proposal stood out for its quality and for matching the scale of our duty free ambitions in this next exciting new chapter for the airport.”
The new concession will see LLA’s main duty free store in departures grow by over 40%, from 1,870sqm to 2,680sqm, and will also include the operation of a secondary duty free store in departures and a store in arrivals.
Aligned to LLA’s vision to offer a shopping experience that is unexpected, immersive, and fun, the main duty free store is set to undergo a comprehensive and exciting new redesign that will include an eye-catching new Bottega Prosecco bar, designed specifically for the airport.
The new concession will feature a range of international brands with curated displays and a distinctive sense of place that showcases the local region’s heroes. Iconic British and local brands such as Fortnum & Mason, Creed, Charlotte Tilbury and Cadbury will feature alongside a dedicated space for sustainable products, ensuring a fresh new standard for LLA’s duty free retailing.
“This is a proud moment for all of us at Lagardère Travel Retail UK & Ireland,” said Peter Newbould, Chief Executive Officer UK & Ireland, Lagardère Travel Retail. “Our teams have worked tirelessly on this tender and I am delighted that London Luton Airport has recognised our determination to take the quality of duty free retail to a new level here. We’ve built a strong platform in LLA over recent years, but we can always do more to ensure we meet the changing needs of our customers. I would also like to sincerely thank all at London Luton Airport for their trust. We look forward to working closely with them to achieve our common goals together.”
