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About Leeds Bradford, Yorkshire's Airport
Welcome to the Yorkshire region’s largest airport
At Leeds Bradford Airport we help millions of passengers reach a wide range of international destinations every year.
We want to inspire our community and that’s why we aspire to be the first choice airport for our customers, providing excellent connectivity and positive customer experiences.
At Leeds Bradford we are well placed to serve our thriving region, with competitive airlines offering great routes and prices worth travelling for.
Some of our historical highlights
Since opening on the site in 1931, Yeadon Aerodrome still sits only 7 miles from Leeds centre and 9 miles from the centre of Bradford. Well known amongst locals, the spot holds the title as England’s highest airport with an elevation pf 681 ft.
Here’s a bit about how we took off:
- Leeds and Bradford Municipal Aerodrome opened on 17 October 1931, expanding to scheduled flights and by 35 acres in 1935.
- When the Second World War brought a halt to civil aviation in 1939 a near-by, camouflaged aircraft factory used the aerodrome to deliver planes to the war effort.
- Civilians were flying out from Leeds Bradford Airport again by 1947 and the 50s and 60s brought routes to Belfast, Düsseldorf and Dublin we still offer today.
- Work to extend the runway, create a tunnel to take the A658 beneath it and redevelopments of the terminal building were completed in 1985 upgrading the airport to regional status.
- Transatlantic flights to Canada were first offered in 1984 with Wardair. The first chartered Concorde landed in 1986 with an estimated 70,000 people there to see it.
- In 1994 we went open all hours meaning flights could use the airport 24 hours a day.
Recent developments
In recent years, airport passengers have grown significantly from 1.2 million a year in 1997 to 2.9 million in 2007. Now welcoming over 4 million passengers a year, the airport plans to welcome 7 million a year by 2030.
AMP Capital (now InfraBridge) acquired Leeds Bradford Airport in 2017, bringing expertise and a successful track record of investing in airports globally within its infrastructure portfolio, to Yorkshire. Since then, the airport terminal has undergone significant improvement.
Our future
As a regional airport our success is one we share with the Yorkshire region. We strategically plan our growth and development with the local economy, environment and stakeholders in mind.
To help achieve our ambitions, we have produced our ‘Route to 2030 Strategic Development Plan’ - which will see annual passenger numbers increase from four million to seven million by 2030. It’s an investment in the future of Leeds Bradford Airport and sits alongside our Surface Access Strategy.
A part of the community
The responsibility of serving our region and local communities sustainably is a long term commitment at the heart of our planning. We have a commitment to protecting the environment, investing in our community and consulting on our future plans. A formal link to our neighbouring communities is hosted at the Leeds Bradford Airport Consultative Committee Meeting (ACC) held quarterly.
Airport Consultative Committee
Find out about our plan to manage the effects of noise arising from aircraft departing and arriving at the airport on our Airport Noise page.
Night flight information – CLEUD Applications
Following the submission of our five CLEUD applications on 5 September 2023, we have been liaising closely with Leeds City Council (LCC).
Due to queries raised during the process in relation to the accuracy of LBA's supporting data, LBA has conducted further data analysis. This has not changed the substance of the CLEUD applications but has led LBA to withdraw its original five CLEUD applications, and replaced them with four new applications, supported by a new statement and additional flight data. This additional information adds further clarity and fact-based evidence to the statements made in the original CLEUD applications. It provides LCC with more historical data to enable LCC to make a fully informed and robust decision on the four CLEUD applications.
Open letter from Vincent Hodder, CEO
A Q&A Document
Injunction
On 19 July 2024, the High Court granted us an injunction, which prohibits anyone from entering, occupying or remaining on Leeds Bradford Airport in connection with protesting about fossil fuels or the environment (whether in connection with Just Stop Oil or Extinction Rebellion or other campaign) without our permission.
Anyone breaching the injunction might be imprisoned for up to 2 years, fined and/or have their assets seized for contempt of court.
Documents relating to the Injunction can be found on the links on this page.
Our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion
At Leeds Bradford Airport, we are committed to promoting a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to thrive.
We believe that an inclusive culture is essential to our success - where colleagues from all backgrounds feel welcome, supported, and able to bring their best selves to work. Our commitment goes beyond words; we are actively working to build a fairer and more diverse workplace that reflects the communities we serve.
To strengthen our approach, we have partnered with leading global Diversity & Inclusion experts to ensure that inclusion remains at the heart of everything we do. Research shows that diverse and inclusive workplaces drive innovation, engagement, and high-performing teams - and we are dedicated to embedding these values across LBA.
We know that real change comes from within. That’s why we’re encouraging our colleagues from all departments to play an active role in shaping an inclusive culture at LBA. Through our Champions Network initiative, employees can help instil meaningful change and ensure inclusivity is embedded in every aspect of our workplace.
Diversity and inclusion are not just initiatives - they are essential to who we are. Together, we are building a stronger, more inclusive LBA.
