Spanish airport operator Aena has agreed to buy a majority stake in a new holding company that owns and manages Leeds Bradford Airport and a minority interest in Newcastle International Airport.
Aena said it has signed a contract to purchase 51% of the holding company, which will own 100% of Leeds Bradford Airport and 49% of Newcastle Airport, for £270 million ($362 million). InfraBridge, the vendor, will retain the remaining 49% stake in the holding company and continue as Aena’s strategic partner.
With the transaction, Aena will add two more UK airports to its portfolio, which already includes London Luton Airport, where it also holds a 51% stake. Leeds Bradford and Newcastle together handled about 9.5 million passengers last year. Combined with Luton’s 17 million passengers, Aena’s UK portfolio would total roughly 26.5 million passengers annually.
Aena Chairman and CEO Maurici Lucena says the deal is “a significant step for Aena in countries with enormous potential such as the UK, where we already have a great deal of experience.” He added that, “Aena is looking to selectively grow in the areas where we are already present, so as to create value for public and private shareholders.”
The transaction is subject to customary conditions, including regulatory approvals, and is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026.
Leeds Bradford, located in the Yorkshire and Humber region of England, served 4.3 million passengers in its last financial year to March 2025, with revenues of £56.5 million and EBITDA of £20.6 million. The airport is in the middle of a multi-phase investment program, including terminal expansion and renovation works scheduled to run through the end of 2026.
Newcastle Airport, which serves as a gateway to northeast England, handled 5.2 million passengers in 2024. Revenues totaled £89.5 million that year, with EBITDA of £50.2 million.
Data provided by OAG Schedules Analyser shows Newcastle ranks as the UK’s 12th-largest airport in 2025 by departure seats, while Leeds Bradford ranks 14th. At both airports, Jet2.com and Ryanair are the largest carriers by capacity. Newcastle is also preparing for growth from easyJet, which plans to open a new three-aircraft base at the airport in March 2026, adding routes including Antalya, Corfu, Faro, Malta, Prague and Nice.
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