Trbusiness. The travel retail Trbusiness. The magazine for global retail and duty free professionals.Luton Airport selects Lagardère TR for next phase of duty free operations
By Faye Bartle |
The new concession begins on November 1 2026.
[UPDATED] London Luton Airport (LLA) has today (1 October) announced that it has selected Lagardère Travel Retail to operate duty free stores at the airport.
The 10-year contract will come into force on November 1 2026, and was awarded following a comprehensive tender process.
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.
The new concession will see LLA’s main duty free store in departures grow by more than 40%, from 1,870sqm to 2,680sqm.
It will also include the operation of a secondary duty free store in departures and a store in arrivals.
Lagardère Travel Retail will create a completely reimagined store that is says will be ‘easy to navigate, enjoyable to shop, with plenty of surprises’.
“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 at 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 vision is to vision to create a shopping experience that is ‘unexpected, immersive, and seriously fun’.
In line with 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 variety of international brands with curated displays and a sense of place that will showcase local heroes.
Well-known British and local brands such as Fortnum & Mason, Creed, Charlotte Tilbury and Cadbury will feature, alongside a dedicated space for sustainable products.
The ‘Luton is the new cool’ concept blends international brands with curated displays and a sense of place showcasing local heroes.
In readiness for the new concession, Lagardère Travel Retail has designed a brand new commercial proposition for the enlarged duty free store under the concept ‘Luton is the new cool”’.
“This is a proud moment for all of us at Lagardère Travel Retail UK & Ireland,” said Peter Newbould, Chief Executive Officer UK & Ireland at Lagardère Travel Retail. “Our teams have worked tirelessly on this tender and I am delighted that London Luton Airport have recognised our determination to take the quality of duty free retail to a new level here. We’ve built a strong platform in Luton over recent years but we can always do more to ensure we meet the changing needs of our customers.
“I’d like to thank and congratulate our teams not only in the UK but in Paris and around the world for their help in securing this success, and I know they are fully mobilised to ensure we deliver on our promises. 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.
“Securing the new concession at London Luton gives us an excellent platform to continue our development in the UK across our three business lines – duty free & fashion, travel essentials and dining. Through a relentless focus on quality and delivering value for our partners and our customers, we will achieve our ambitions for growth.”
Lagardère Travel Retail has operated at London Luton since 2005.
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