Airport unveils ambition for long haul flights

Flights to the Middle East and North America could be operating from Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) within three years, according to the company’s chief executive.

LBA wants to further develop long haul flights as part of its newly-updated Vision 2030 strategy.

Passenger numbers are predicted to increase from just over four million a year in 2023 to seven million a year by 2030.

The airport said the masterplan would create 5,500 direct and indirect jobs and contribute a total of nearly £1bn to the regional economy, but has been criticised by environmental campaigners.

The airport's chief executive, Vincent Hodder, said destinations being pursued included New York, Boston and Chicago in the US and Jeddah, Oman and Dubai in the Middle East.

“We’re already having those conversations with airlines from North America and the Middle East about how we can collectively work together to make those things happen over the next two to three years," he said.

"I would be disappointed if by 2027 we did not have flights to North America and the Middle East.”

The proposed expansion plans will be funded by £200m of private investment and include increasing terminal floorspace by 38% and 10 new aircraft stands.

However, climate campaigners said three million additional passengers a year would lead to a huge increase in greenhouse gas emissions.

Nick Hodgkinson, from Group for Action on Leeds Bradford Airport (GALBA), said: "We cannot allow a massive increase in the... emissions that damage the climate and the air pollution and noise that damage the health of people living under the flight path.

"There is simply is no alternative to using fossil fuels at large scale to get planes off the ground.”

Mr Hodder agreed there would be an increase in emissions from aircraft in the short term.

However, he added: "What’s really important to remember is that the aircraft industry is committed to being net carbon zero by 2050, it’s a temporary increase that reduces over time.”

Beyond 2030, LBA has pointed towards ambitions for a new purpose-built replacement terminal, the construction of a new hotel within walking distance of the airport and the potential growth of specialist air freight.

The airport's strategy has been broadly welcomed West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin, who said: "It clearly states how the airport will improve Yorkshire's connection to the rest of the world.

"This substantial private investment will benefit local communities and the wider Yorkshire region, serving as a catalyst for considerable, long-term economic growth."

She said a commitment to net zero carbon emissions for the airport's ground operations was a "great first step".

"Industry-wide, there’s much still to do to decarbonise aviation as a whole," she said.

Leeds City Council said when the airport exceeded four-and-a-half million passengers a year it would liaise with it to obtain planning consent to enable expansion to five million passengers.

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