Out of service at Luton Airport – next stop, Ukraine

Holidaymakers who’ve caught a flight from Luton Airport might recognise a fleet of purple bendy buses that, for years, shuttled passengers between the terminal and Luton Airport Parkway station.

Operated by Go-Ahead, the buses carried holidaymakers and their luggage up and down a steep two-kilometre hill between the airport and train railway – until March this year, when they were replaced by a brand new airport monorail.

So what became of the buses? After a long journey driven by a team of volunteer drivers, they’ve turned up in an unlikely place – Ukraine – still with their Luton Airport livery intact.

Go-Ahead donated the vehicles to a local charity, Swindon Humanitarian Aid Partnership, which is providing vehicles to the Ukrainians that can be used as field hospitals, rest areas for troops or for transporting supplies.

The former Luton buses are being fitted with shower and toilet facilities. One is likely to become a mobile exhibition in Ukraine showing the devastation brought about by the Russian onslaught.

These vehicles have done years of duty shuttling holidaymakers and suitcases. They’re now retired from airport duty and we’re glad they can be put to good use – as a small contribution to Ukraine’s war effort.