Airport angst for Spanish firm

THE Spanish operator of Luton airport could be ditched under ambitious expansion plans.

The busy hub is run by a subsidiary of Spanish infrastructure group Abertis, in a deal that ends in 2028.

But the firm is reluctant to finance plans that would see the airport double its current capacity to more than 18 million passengers a year.

This could lead to owners Luton Borough Council using a get-out clause in 2014 to find a new partner willing to finance the expansion.

Luton airport currently operates flights to seven destinations on the Spanish mainland including Malaga, Alicante and Murcia.