Five stars for five years: LLA maintains sector leader status for fifth year
For the fifth consecutive year, London Luton Airport (LLA) has been recognised as a GRESB sector leader, achieving a perfect score of 100, retaining its five-star rating, and ranking first overall among more than 500 companies worldwide, including the highest-ranked airport in its European peer group.
GRESB is an independent, international sustainability framework that globally benchmarks major organisations and assets on their environmental, social and governance (ESG) management, with sector leaders being identified as the top performing organisations by sector, region, and nature of ownership.
LLA works internally and with key airlines, suppliers, passengers and other stakeholders to reduce and manage its environmental impacts and seek to influence and mitigate impacts beyond its direct control, including noise, air quality, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, waste and water.
Key environmental sustainability milestones include:
• Reducing carbon emissions from airport operations1 by more than 40% compared to 2019
• Nearly two thirds of based aircraft2 are now quieter, more fuel efficient ‘next generation’ aircraft, one of the highest proportions in Europe
• Reducing landing and take-off (LTO) aircraft emissions by 13.2% compared to 2019
• Reducing energy consumption, increasing recycling and expanding the use of low-carbon vehicles across airport operations
• 34% of passengers travelling to and from the airport used more sustainable modes of transport, vs 29% in 2024
As one of its region’s leading employers, LLA also plays a vital role in the local economy, supporting local people into local jobs and helping to develop the workforce of the future through community-based education and engagement programmes and initiatives. This work contributes to wider social value for Luton and supports Luton Council’s 2040 vision for a healthy, fair and sustainable town where everyone can thrive.
LLA’s key social sustainability milestones include:
• Delivering more than £44m in social value through local employment and procurement in the local economy3
• Supporting approximately 14,700 jobs locally
• Employing 50% of its workforce from Luton postcode areas
2025 milestones include:
• Supporting 932 local people through LLA education and skills programmes, bringing the total number reached to 1,279
• Spending £41.2 million with businesses within 20 miles of the airport, including £25.2 million with businesses based in Luton
• Raising more than £60,000 for charity partners
• Supporting 45 community projects, benefiting more than 34,000 people
• Contributing 826 employee volunteering hours to local community initiatives, an increase of more than 44% compared with the previous year
Alberto Martin, Chief Executive Officer at London Luton Airport, commented: “As one of the UK’s busiest airports and one of the largest employers in the Luton area, London Luton Airport recognises the importance of seeking to operate more responsibly and sustainably. LLA plays an important role in connecting people, places and economies, and our focus on managing our environmental impact and providing enduring social benefit to our local community will always be paramount. Maintaining a 100% score, five-star rating and sector leader status from GRESB for a fifth consecutive year highlights our commitment to demonstrating the highest, most robust ESG management, governance and performance.”
Rodrigo Marabini, International Subsidiaries Director at Aena, commented: “Aena Group continues to champion the highest standards of environmental, social and governance performance across all its airports. We are delighted therefore that London Luton Airport has been recognised by GRESB for the fifth-year running, reflecting its ongoing commitment to delivering positive environmental and social outcomes across its operations.”
Justin Symonds, Senior Adviser at InfraBridge, added: “We are delighted to see London Luton Airport achieve this outstanding recognition from GRESB for a fifth consecutive year. The airport continues to demonstrate the benefits of an effective public-private partnership and securing a maximum score and five-star rating underlines our collective commitment to delivering positive sustainability governance management and performance.”
1. Scope 1 emissions are direct emissions from sources controlled or owned by London Luton Airport Operations Limited. Scope 2 refers to indirect emissions from the generation of purchased or acquired energy used directly by the Airport.
2. A “based aircraft” is a commercial airline-operated aircraft that is parked (often overnight) at the Airport before 5 a.m. and then used to carry passengers on its first departing flight of the day from the Airport.
3. Estimated figures based on formulae and calculation figures from Social Value Portal