The new YO! at Luton Airport is Lagardère’s first restaurant concept in the UK and Ireland.

Lagardère Travel Retail UK & Ireland has opened its first restaurant in the region, with the new branch of YO! at London Luton Airport (LLA) the latest addition to its 1,100-strong global F&B portfolio. 

The restaurant will provide a comprehensive offer to Luton passengers, with a dine-in kaiten conveyor belt, a large grab and go area with hot and cold food, and the first YO! breakfast menu. 

Lagardère Travel Retail operates over 20 retail and duty free stores across airports and ferries in the UK and Ireland. 

“We are excited to be opening at London Luton Airport, where we are confident that YO!’s  fresh, healthy and convenient Japanese food offer will be ideally suited for departing  passengers,” said David Dillon, International General Manager, YO!.

“At LLA passengers will be able to dine-in at our famous kaiten conveyor belt, or for more time-pressed travellers, they will be able to take advantage of our comprehensive  grab-and-go offer. 

“The expertise of Lagardère in travel retail is second to none, and they are the ideal partner for our first franchise restaurant in the UK.” 

Marion Engelhard, Managing Director, Lagardère Travel Retail UK & Ireland, added: “We are very excited for the opening of YO! at London Luton Airport, and are delighted to be working with both YO! and the LLA team to deliver the best possible experience for our customers. 

“YO!’s healthy and fresh menu offers something for everyone and is perfectly catered to serve London Luton Airport travellers. 

“Just as important, YO!’s commitment to sustainability and making a positive difference in the communities that we serve aligns  perfectly with Lagardère Travel Retail’s CSR commitments and makes this the perfect  partnership.”  

The colourful restaurant features YO!’s first breakfast menu

Jonathan Rayner, Chief Commercial Officer at London Luton Airport, commented: “YO! will be a fantastic addition to the choice of restaurants available to passengers travelling through London Luton Airport. 

“YO! is an exciting and established brand that is  extremely popular with sushi lovers but will also offer diners a mouth-watering range of hot street food, from traditional classics to innovative fusion dishes. 

“With a busy summer ahead  of us, the timing of this latest restaurant opening couldn’t be better, offering even more  choice and underlining our commitment to delivering a simple and friendly passenger experience.”

In February, Dag Rasmussen, Chairman & CEO of Lagardère Travel Retail, told TRBusiness that “many geographies [are] now catching up or even exceeding 2019 levels in terms of sales or passenger traffic” as the operator’s recovery continued.