Leeds Bradford Airport
Leeds Bradford Airport (IATA: LBA, ICAO: EGNM) is located in Yeadon, in the City of Leeds Metropolitan District in West Yorkshire, England, about 7 miles (11 km) northwest of Leeds city centre, and about 9 miles (14 km) northeast from Bradford city centre.[1] It serves Leeds and Bradford and the wider Yorkshire region including York, Wakefield and Harrogate, and is the largest airport in Yorkshire. The airport was in public ownership until May 2007, when it was bought by Bridgepoint Capital for £145.5 million.[3] Bridgepoint sold it in 2017 to AMP Capital.[4][5]
Not to be confused with Leeds East Airport.
Leeds Bradford Airport
Public
Leeds Bradford Airport Limited
17 October 1931
681 ft / 208 m
3,288,635
3,288,635
345%
25,943
206%
Leeds Bradford opened on 17 October 1931 when it was known as Leeds and Bradford Municipal Aerodrome or Yeadon Aerodrome;[6] some locals still refer to it as Yeadon Airport. Largely used for general aviation and training purposes early on, the first scheduled flights commenced on 8 April 1935. To accommodate passenger traffic, work commenced on the first terminal in the late 1930s, although only the first wing was completed before the Second World War.
British aircraft manufacturer Avro constructed a shadow factory called the Leeds Bradford Airport Depot to the north of the airport, which was the largest free-standing structure in Europe at that time.[7][8][9] Avro produced around 5,515 aircraft before it closed in December 1946 and civil flights recommenced the following year.[10] It is located where Leeds Bradford Airport Industrial Estate is today.[11][12][9]
In 1965, a new runway opened. After Yeadon's terminal was destroyed in a fire, a replacement was completed in 1968. In the early 1980s, runway extensions were completed that enabled it to be classified as a regional airport. On 4 November 1984, the day a runway extension was opened, Wardair commenced transatlantic flights to Toronto, using Boeing 747s. On 2 August 1986, an Air France Concorde charter flight from Paris landed for the first time, drawing an estimated crowd of 70,000 people. More Concorde charter flights took place until 2000. In 1994, the airport's operational hour restrictions were removed, enabling flights at any time of day. Since 1996, the terminal has been expanded in the terms of size and facilities. In 2007, nearly 2.9 million passengers passed through the airport, an 88% increase in seven years and more than twice as many compared with 1997 (1.2 million).
Leeds Bradford has a CAA Public Use Aerodrome Licence (Number P800) that allows flights for passenger transport and flight training. The airport operates to many domestic and European destinations. It is the highest airport in England at an elevation of 681 ft (208 m).[13] By the number of passengers handled in 2022, Leeds Bradford was the 13th busiest airport in the UK. It is a base for Jet2.com, which has its headquarters at the airport.
History[edit]
Opening and early operations[edit]
What became Leeds Bradford Airport was built in the late 1920s and early 1930s on 60 acres (24 ha) of grassland next to the old Bradford to Harrogate road.[14] On 17 October 1931, the airport, which was interchangeably known as Leeds and Bradford Municipal Aerodrome or Yeadon Aerodrome in its early years, was officially opened.[15] Initially, the airport was operated by the Yorkshire Aeroplane Club on behalf of Leeds and Bradford Corporations. Its early operations were typified by training and general aviation flights.[14]
In 1935, the aerodrome was expanded by 35 acres (140,000 m2); 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). The service was extended to Edinburgh (Turnhouse). In June 1935, Blackpool and West Coast Air Services launched a service to the Isle of Man.[16] By 1936, the London/Yeadon/Newcastle/Edinburgh service was flying three times a week and also stopped at Doncaster and continued to Aberdeen (Dyce).
Seasonal flights between Yeadon and Liverpool commenced during the 1930s. To accommodate the expanding passenger numbers, work commenced on a terminal building but progress was halted after a single wing had been completed.[15] During this time, the German zeppelin LZ 129 Hindenburg overflew the aerodrome and while the flight was claimed to be for publicity purposes, it was later found to have been engaged in espionage.[14]
Wartime use[edit]
At the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, all civil aviation operations were halted. The aircraft manufacturer Avro constructed a shadow factory to the north of the aerodrome to manufacture military aircraft.[17] The factory was connected to the aerodrome by a taxiway from where the aircraft made their way to make their maiden flights.[18] The Avro factory was camouflaged, its roof disguised as a field with dummy cattle and agricultural buildings so that from the air it resembled the surrounding fields.[18] Large numbers of houses were constructed nearby to house the workforce. The factory, which commenced production in 1941, was reportedly the largest free-standing structure in Europe at the time.[14]
To better accommodate the large military aircraft, improvements were made to the aerodrome including two runways, more taxiways and extra hangarage enabling Yeadon to become an important site for military test flying.[19] About 5,515 aircraft were produced at Yeadon of the following main types: Anson (more than 4,500), Bristol Blenheim (250), Lancaster bomber (695), York (45) and the Lincoln (25).[20] Decreased demand at the end of the conflict saw the factory closed in December 1946.[18] On New Year's Day 1947, the site was handed over to the Ministry of Civil Aviation. Many of the airport's original hangars remain intact.[18]
Development[edit]
Leeds Bradford Airport published a masterplan in March 2017 outlining development needs at the airport through 2030.[50] Planning permission was granted in January 2019 to renovate and expand the terminal to create additional departure gate access, extended seating areas, improved baggage reclaim facilities and enlarged immigration and customs facilities.[51] Leeds City Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) also consulted in 2019 on the delivery of a new link road and parkway rail station which could provide a 10-minute connection to Leeds railway station.[52][53] The link road was dropped, with plans for Leeds Bradford Airport Parkway railway station taken for further development.[54]
However, AMP Capital stated that updating the old 1965 original terminal would neither improve facilities sufficiently nor be able to offer a carbon neutral facility for the future.[55] A planning application for a new terminal was submitted in early 2020 with permission granted by Leeds City Council in February 2021, alongside a rise in annual passenger numbers from four to seven million.[56] Local MPs, environmental action groups and local residents criticised the scheme on environmental grounds, while supporters emphasised the benefits it would bring to the local economy.[57][58] Following these objections, the decision to expand the airport was referred to the government, which placed a temporary block on construction while it examined the decision further.[59] By March 2022, citing "excessive delays", the proposal for a new terminal was withdrawn and efforts were again placed into implementing the 2019 expansion plans.[60][61]
In October 2023, the airport announced the 'LBA:REGEN' regeneration scheme, committing over £100 million to improve accessibility, expanded retail and dining facilities and a more streamlined arrivals experience, alongside improvements which will allow the airport to meet their net-zero 2030 goal.[62] Construction on this scheme began in autumn 2023 and is expected to be completed by late 2025 / early 2026.[63][64][65]
RAF Yeadon
609 (West Riding) Squadron was based at Yeadon from its formation on 10 February 1936,[66] until 27 August 1939 when it was relocated to Catterick.[67] In 1946, 609 Squadron was reformed and returned to Yeadon the following year.[68] The squadron was equipped with de Havilland Mosquito MK.XXX aircraft which were difficult to operate because the runways were too short. Safety speed (at which the aircraft needs to be flown and controlled on a single engine) was not reached until over flying central Leeds when taking off in that direction—with drastic results should things go wrong. The airfield sloped downhill and it was necessary to land at RAF Linton-on-Ouse (20 miles away) if the wind was coming from the wrong direction.[69] Eventually, the Air Ministry re-equipped 609 with Spitfire LFXVIs.[69] This was sufficient as a short-term measure, but the grass airstrip was not ideally suited to Spitfire operations, and it was decided that 609 Squadron should move to the hard runways of RAF Church Fenton in October 1950.[70]
Yeadon was requisitioned by the Royal Air Force and became part of 13 Group and subsequently 12 Group. Once 609 (West Riding) Squadron left for Catterick, Yeadon served as a Flying Training School, bomber maintenance unit, and a scatter airfield. In January 1942, it was transferred to the Ministry of Aircraft Production and Avro built a shadow factory for the production of Albermarles, Ansons, Lancasters, Yorks, and Lincolns. It was also used by Hawker Aircraft for development work on its Tornado design. The Royal Air Force remained a part of Yeadons life until 1957, operating Austers, Supermarine Spitfires, De Havilland Mosquitoes out of here. RAF Yeadon finally closed in 1959.[71]
Aircraft that were based at Yeadon:
Airport ownership[edit]
Leeds and Bradford councils jointly bought the airport site in 1930 and it opened as Yeadon Aerodrome in 1931.[73] The airport became a limited company in 1987, and was shared between the five boroughs, Leeds (40%), Bradford (40%) and Wakefield, Calderdale and Kirklees (sharing the remaining 20%).[23]
In October 2006, plans to privatise the airport were confirmed and on 4 April 2007 the five controlling councils announced that Bridgepoint Capital had been selected as the preferred bidder. On 4 May 2007, Bridgepoint Capital acquired the airport from Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield, Calderdale and Kirklees councils for £145.5 million. Although Bridgepoint Capital owned the airport 100% financially, the councils hold a "special share" in the airport, to protect its name and continued operation as an air transport gateway for the Yorkshire region. In November 2017, Bridgepoint Capital sold the airport to AMP Capital who own several other airports around the world. AMP plans to expand the airport, improve the customer experience and secure more business flights.[74]
Ground transport[edit]
Bus services to and from the airport are currently operated by Transdev Blazefield under the Flyer brand. The network currently consists of three routes.
A1 to Rawdon, Horsforth, Hawksworth, Kirkstall and Leeds.
A2 to Pool, Pannal and Harrogate to the North, and Yeadon, Rawdon, Apperley Bridge, Greengates, and Bradford to the South.
A3 to Pool and Otley to the North, and Yeadon, Guiseley, Shipley and Bradford to the South.
Services were previously operated by Yorkshire Tiger, branded as 'Flying Tiger'. The routes were numbered 737 (A3), 747 (A2) and 757 (A1). The tender was given to Transdev Blazefield in August 2020 due to Covid resulting in the routes no longer being commercially viable for Yorkshire Tiger.
Bus services to the cities of Leeds and Bradford link the airport with the National Rail network via Leeds railway station, Bradford Interchange and Bradford Forster Square and connects with long-distance coach services at Leeds City bus station and Bradford Interchange.[89]
Prior to 1985, there were two recorded incidents of runway overruns at Leeds Bradford Airport, both involving British Midland Airways Viscount aircraft, and both showing evidence of hydroplaning.[94]
Media related to Leeds Bradford International Airport at Wikimedia Commons