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Leeds Bradford Airport Information

Facilities

Leeds Bradford International Airport serves 56 scheduled destinations including 12 domestic and 44 mainly European services. It has one terminal in which passengers can enjoy a small range of high street retail and catering. Facilities in the terminal also include airport information; Business Lounge; car hire desks; cash machines; currency exchange; quiet room; and visitor information.

History

Leeds Bradford International Airport was originally Yeadon Aerodrome, which began operating in October 1931. By 1935 the airfield had been extended by a further 35 acres and scheduled air services commenced to Newcastle and Edinburgh. Services to Blackpool and the Isle of Man were also introduced shortly after. With the outbreak of war in 1939 civil flying ceased at Yeadon Aerodrome. During the war years more than 4,500 aircraft were built at the Avro Factory adjacent to the Airport. So that these new aircraft could be test flown, two runways, taxiways and flight test hangars were built on the aerodrome.

Post war civil flights began in 1947, and in 1953 Yeadon Aviation Ltd was formed to operate the Airport, however in 1959 the Leeds Bradford Airport Joint Committee took over the Airport. Work was soon underway to improve the facilities, with the installation of permanent airfield lighting and extensions to passenger facilities and apron areas. The first daily London service started in 1960. In 1963 permission was given to construct a new runway and the new runway became operational in 1965. The building of a new passenger terminal commenced later that year and was opened for use in February 1968.

The completion of a runway extension in November 1984 was marked by Wardair who operated the airport's first transatlantic flight to Toronto. The first phase of an extension to the terminal was opened in July the following year, and rapid growth followed in both charter and scheduled services. By 1986 half a million passengers passed through the airport and Air France's Concorde visited for the first time. In 1987, Leeds Bradford Airport was converted into a limited company owned by the five metropolitan councils of West Yorkshire, Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield, Calderdale and Kirklees.

In 1996 the Airport saw its millionth passenger. Since then the terminal building has virtually doubled in size with new and improved arrivals and departure facilities, lounges and two new air bridges. In 2005 just over 2.6 million passengers passed through the Airport. Further developments took place in 2006 to include a £5 million refurbishment.