£2m investment will create 200 jobs as LJLA prepares for busy summer

A £2m investment at Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LJLA) will create 200 jobs.

The financial injection is linked to the airport’s recovery from the crippling COVID-19 pandemic restrictions which affected flights at airports throughout the world.

The airport said it expects a much busier summer this year as global movement improves and carriers increase services and routes.

LJLA currently offers flights to more than 60 destinations across Europe and the UK, and this summer will be able to offer onward connections to a host of global destinations after the launch of the new Lufthansa Frankfurt service starting in May.

This will enable passengers to connect with a range of global flights for onward destinations, and is expected to lead to the biggest surge in passenger numbers at the airport since 2019.

Airlines will start their summer schedules at the end of March and work is now under way across parts of the airport terminal to improve the shopping and dining experience for both departing and arriving passengers.

This involves the creation of new and improved passenger facilities in time for Easter and the first of the summer season holiday periods.

In the departure lounge, airport food and beverage operator SSP, which already operates a range of units, will shortly be opening a new ‘Upper Crust’ freshly baked baguette specialist store, while fashion sports retailer JD Sports is upgrading and expanding its premises.

High street bakery chain Greggs will shortly be opening a store at the airport for the first time, with a unit near the arrivals area for returning passengers and those waiting to ‘meet and greet’ friends and relatives, along with a new WHSmith unit that includes a Marks & Spencer Food To Go offer for the first time, too.

Also, a number of existing retailers will be re-opening in time for the Easter holiday period and the increase in flights.

These include designer clothing retailer Traveller and restaurant Frankie and Benny’s, as well as several other food and beverage areas.

And the airport will introduce an enhanced parking offer for passengers with a new ‘Meet and Greet’ valet parking facility, enabling passengers to drop off their vehicles close to the terminal, with airport staff parking their car for them on site at the airport and then returning them ready for collection when passengers return.

In total, this £2m investment will create 200 jobs at the airport, which is in addition to more than 200 vacancies that a host of employers at the airport filled during a recruitment day in January, attracting more than 750 applicants.

Lucy O’Shaughnessy, LJLA’s commercial director, said: “It’s great to be opening units back up again and adding some fantastic new brands to the mix and we are really looking forward to welcoming back our regular passengers and hopefully many new ones, too.”