Leeds Bradford Airport: What's Inside?

what is in leeds bradford airport

Leeds Bradford Airport, located in Yeadon, England, is the largest airport in Yorkshire. It is a base for Jet2.com, which has its headquarters at the airport, and Ryanair, which operates 17 routes from the airport. The airport has flights to several cities, including London, Edinburgh, Dublin, Paris, Amsterdam, Rome, and Madrid. It is widely used for both holiday and business flights, serving over 80 direct destinations. The airport has a rich history, initially operated by the Yorkshire Aeroplane Club and later by Yeadon Aviation Ltd. It has expanded over the years, with a new runway opening in 1965 and extensions in the early 1980s, allowing transatlantic flights to Toronto. With an elevation of 681 feet, it is the highest airport in England.

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Location and ownership

Leeds Bradford Airport (IATA: LBA, ICAO: EGNM) is located in Yeadon, in the City of Leeds Metropolitan District in West Yorkshire, England. It is about 7 miles (11 km) northwest of Leeds city centre and about 9 miles (14 km) northeast of Bradford city centre. The airport serves Leeds and Bradford and the wider Yorkshire region, including York, Wakefield, and Harrogate. It is the largest airport in Yorkshire and the highest airport in England, with an elevation of 681 ft (208 m).

The airport was built in the late 1920s and early 1930s on 60 acres (24 ha) of grassland next to the old Bradford-Harrogate road. It officially opened on 17 October 1931 and was initially known as Leeds and Bradford Municipal Aerodrome or Yeadon Aerodrome. The airport was operated by the Yorkshire Aeroplane Club on behalf of Leeds and Bradford Corporations, with early operations focusing on training and general aviation flights.

In 1935, the aerodrome expanded to include 35 acres (140,000 m2) of land, and the first scheduled flights commenced on 8 April 1935, with a service by North Eastern Airways from London (Heston Aerodrome) to Newcastle upon Tyne (Cramlington). During its early years, the airport was interchangeably referred to as Leeds and Bradford Municipal Aerodrome or Yeadon Aerodrome, with some locals still using the latter name today.

The airport was in public ownership until May 2007, when it was purchased by Bridgepoint Capital for £145.5 million. Bridgepoint later sold it to AMP Capital in 2017.

Today, Leeds Bradford Airport offers scheduled flights to many European and domestic destinations and serves as a base for Jet2.com, which has its headquarters at the airport. Ryanair also has a presence at the airport, with plans to increase its routes from 3 to 17 in 2010. Leeds Bradford currently serves over 80 direct destinations, including several European capital cities.

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History

Leeds Bradford Airport (IATA: LBA, ICAO: EGNM) is located in Yeadon, about 7 miles (11 km) northwest of Leeds city centre and about 9 miles (14 km) northeast of Bradford city centre. It is the largest airport in Yorkshire, serving Leeds, Bradford, and the wider Yorkshire region, including York, Wakefield, and Harrogate.

The airport was built in the late 1920s and early 1930s on 60 acres (24 ha) of grassland next to the old Bradford-Harrogate road. It was initially operated by the Yorkshire Aeroplane Club on behalf of Leeds and Bradford Corporations. The airport opened on 17 October 1931 as the Leeds and Bradford Municipal Aerodrome or Yeadon Aerodrome. Its early operations consisted primarily of training and general aviation flights.

In 1935, the aerodrome expanded by 35 acres (140,000 m2), and the first scheduled commercial flights commenced on 8 April 1935, with services to Newcastle upon Tyne, Edinburgh, and the Isle of Man. In June 1935, Blackpool and West Coast Air Services also began serving the airport, offering scheduled flights to the Isle of Man.

During World War II, the airport was repurposed for the war effort, and the British aircraft manufacturer Avro constructed a large shadow factory to the north of the airport. Avro produced around 5,515 aircraft before closing in December 1946. Civil flights recommenced in 1947, and in 1953, Yeadon Aviation Ltd was formed to manage and operate the airport and its Aero Club.

In 1955, new services to several European and regional destinations were added, including Belfast, Jersey, Ostend, Southend, the Isle of Wight, and Düsseldorf. In 1960, scheduled flights to London and Dublin were introduced. However, in 1965, disaster struck when the airport's terminal building was accidentally destroyed by fire. A new runway and terminal were completed by 1968, heralding a commercial boom for the airport.

In the early 1980s, runway extensions were completed, enabling the airport to be classified as a regional airport. On 4 November 1984, Wardair commenced transatlantic flights to Toronto using Boeing 747s. Concorde charter flights operated from the airport until 2000, with the first landing in 1986, attracting an estimated crowd of 70,000 people.

In 1994, the airport's operational hour restrictions were removed, allowing flights at any time of day. The terminal has been expanded several times since 1996 in terms of size and facilities. Leeds Bradford Airport has continued to grow, with nearly 2.9 million passengers passing through in 2007, making it the 13th busiest airport in the UK by passenger numbers in 2022.

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Airlines and destinations

Leeds Bradford Airport is the largest airport in Yorkshire. It is located in Yeadon, about 7 miles (11 km) northwest of Leeds city centre and 9 miles (14 km) northeast of Bradford city centre. The airport serves Leeds and Bradford and the wider Yorkshire region, including York, Wakefield, and Harrogate. Leeds Bradford Airport is the highest airport in England, with an elevation of 681 feet (208 m). It is also one of the busiest airports in the UK, with over 2.9 million passengers passing through in 2007 and ranking as the 13th busiest airport in the country in 2022.

The airport offers scheduled flights to many European destinations and a limited number of domestic destinations. It is widely used for both holiday and business flights, with around 3 million passengers annually. Leeds Bradford Airport currently serves over 80 direct destinations, including 12 European capital cities. Some of the cities that can be reached from the airport include London, Edinburgh, Dublin, Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, Rome, Milan, Madrid, Barcelona, and Prague.

A variety of airlines operate from Leeds Bradford Airport. Jet2.com has its headquarters at the airport, and Ryanair has also established a base there, increasing its routes from 3 to 17 in 2010. easyJet offers flights to Malaga and Palma, and Jet2.com and Jet2holidays have expanded their summer programs with additional flights and aircraft.

In addition to these major airlines, Leeds Bradford Airport has a rich history of charter flights. In 1984, Wardair commenced transatlantic flights to Toronto using Boeing 747s. From 1986 to 2000, Concorde charter flights operated from the airport, with an Air France Concorde flight from Paris drawing an estimated crowd of 70,000 people.

The airport has also expanded its domestic destinations over the years. In 1955, services to Belfast, Jersey, Ostend, Southend, the Isle of Wight, and Düsseldorf were added. Scheduled flights to London began in 1960, followed soon after by a route to Dublin operated by Aer Lingus. During 1976, Britannia Airways introduced the first holiday charter flight to the Iberian Peninsula from Leeds Bradford Airport.

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Leeds Bradford Airport, located in Yeadon, Leeds, about 7 miles (11 km) northwest of Leeds city centre and 9 miles (14 km) northeast of Bradford city centre, serves Leeds, Bradford, and the greater Yorkshire region, including York, Wakefield, and Harrogate. It is the largest airport in Yorkshire and the 13th busiest airport in the UK in terms of passenger traffic in 2022.

Leeds Bradford Airport is accessible by road, rail, and bus.

By road, the airport is located off the A65, which connects to the M606 and M1 motorways. Taxis and private hire vehicles are available at the airport for travel to and from the airport.

The airport is also accessible by train, with the nearest train station being Leeds Station, located about 7 miles (11 km) from the airport. However, it is important to note that there is no direct train connection to the airport, and travellers may need to take a bus or taxi to complete their journey.

Bus services connect the airport to the surrounding region, with National Express providing direct bus services to the airport from the bus station.

In addition to these transport options, ride-sharing services such as Uber may also be available in the area.

For travellers looking to fly from Leeds Bradford Airport, it is important to plan their journey carefully and allow for potential delays or cancellations, especially when using train services.

The airport serves over 80 direct destinations, including several European cities such as Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, Rome, Milan, Madrid, Barcelona, and Prague. It is a base for Jet2.com, which has its headquarters at the airport, and Ryanair has also established a base there, increasing its routes from 3 to 17.

Leeds Bradford Airport offers a range of facilities and services to accommodate passengers travelling for both business and leisure.

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Passenger numbers

Leeds Bradford Airport, located in Yeadon, Leeds, about 7 miles (11 km) northwest of Leeds city centre, serves Leeds and Bradford and the wider Yorkshire region, including York, Wakefield, and Harrogate. It is the largest airport in Yorkshire and the highest airport in England, with an elevation of 681 feet (208 m).

The airport was built in the late 1920s and early 1930s and officially opened on October 17, 1931, as the Leeds and Bradford Municipal Aerodrome or Yeadon Aerodrome. Initially, the airport was used for general aviation and training purposes, with the first scheduled flights commencing in April 1935.

Over the years, Leeds Bradford Airport has expanded and improved its facilities, including the addition of new runways and terminals. In 1984, the airport began offering transatlantic flights to Toronto using Boeing 747s, and Concorde charter flights took place until 2000. In 1994, the airport's operational hour restrictions were removed, allowing flights at any time of day.

The airport is widely used for both holiday and business flights, with around 3 million passengers passing through each year. This number is increasing annually, with new routes and destinations being added regularly.

Frequently asked questions

Leeds Bradford Airport is located in Yeadon, in the City of Leeds Metropolitan District in West Yorkshire, England. It is about 7 miles (11 km) northwest of Leeds city centre and about 9 miles (14 km) northeast of Bradford city centre.

Jet2.com has its headquarters at Leeds Bradford Airport. Other airlines that operate from the airport include Ryanair, easyJet, and Air France.

Leeds Bradford Airport serves over 80 direct destinations, including several European cities such as Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, Rome, Milan, Madrid, Barcelona, and Prague. It also offers flights to London, Edinburgh, Dublin, and Toronto.

Leeds Bradford Airport was built in the late 1920s and early 1930s and officially opened on October 17, 1931, as Leeds and Bradford Municipal Aerodrome or Yeadon Aerodrome. It was initially used for general aviation and training purposes, with the first scheduled flights commencing in 1935. The airport has since expanded and undergone several developments, including the addition of new runways and terminals. It was sold to Bridgepoint Capital in 2007 and then to AMP Capital in 2017.

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