A new partnership at London Luton Airport (LLA) will see GXO Logistics operate the airport’s first consolidation centre, with an £11.5 million refurbishment programme expected to create 150 jobs.
The airport said the new centre will screen and manage every airside delivery, improving security and streamlining how goods reach shops, restaurants and airport operations.
London Luton Airport said it welcomed more than 17.5 million passengers in 2025, up from 16.7 million in 2024, with rising passenger numbers driving increased delivery volumes across the site.
The consolidation centre will be based in one of three hangars being repurposed as part of the refurbishment programme.
The airport said the wider project also includes two new aircraft engineering and repair hangars, with the refurbishment expected to create 150 jobs.
London Luton Airport described itself as a major employer and economic driver in Bedfordshire, supporting 28,000 jobs and contributing £830 million a year to the local economy.
It said that in 2024, 60% of its supply chain spend went to more than 300 businesses within a 25-mile radius of the airport, totalling £110 million.
What will change
GXO said it will screen and deliver every item passengers can buy in the terminal, as well as deliveries that support airside operations.
This includes goods for more than 40 shops and restaurants, such as fashion, perfume and cosmetics, consumer electronics, and items needed to run the airport.
Martin Cooper, Managing Director, Technology and Consumer Goods, at GXO UK and Ireland, said: “We are excited to partner with London Luton Airport on its first consolidation centre.
“As air travel continues to grow, consolidation centres play a pivotal role in driving efficiencies and improving sustainability for airport groups.
“For almost two decades, we’ve operated in complex logistics environments, including airport consolidation, and we’re looking forward to streamlining London Luton Airport’s delivery process, making it more efficient, further automated and secure.”
Neil Thompson, Chief Operations Officer at London Luton Airport, said: “The opening of a dedicated, purpose-built consolidation centre provides London Luton Airport with a smarter, more efficient and streamlined approach to managing the hundreds of thousands of goods delivered to the airport each year.
“In 2025 alone, we welcomed five new shop and restaurant openings, with more expected this year.
“We’re delighted to be working with GXO to develop a facility that allows deliveries to be accepted into one central hub for secure and efficient screening.”
As part of the service, the airport said retailers will benefit from real-time tracking, direct contact with the centre and 24/7 access to a service team.
GXO said it will also introduce a bespoke IT system called STREAM, short for Secure, Technical, Real Time, Electronic Alerts and Messaging, to monitor performance and manage deliveries.
