What’s On The Horizon For: Leeds Bradford Airport

During Routes World 2024, chief executive officer at Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) spoke to Routes about the infrastructure developments at the airport and the release of its Vision 2030 strategy.

LBA serves over 4 million passengers annually across England’s Yorkshire region and beyond. With a wealth of new services launched in the last six months alone, the airport is making great headway towards its goal to serve 7 million passengers by 2030.

LBA’s Vision 2030 is backed by £200 million ($262 million) private investment, allowing the airport to enhance core terminal facilities and operational infrastructure including its runway and air traffic control to revolutionize the experience for both its airline partners and customers.

Speaking on the growth strategy at Routes World in Bahrain, CEO Vincent Hodder said: “Vision 2030 is our way of communicating to our local government and communities what we are trying to do, why we are doing it, and how are we meeting our objectives in terms of community engagement, sustainability, and changes in the passenger experience.”

Engaging with its local communities has opened a range of new route opportunities for LBA. Having recently launched its Paris route with easyJet in October, added Bucharest and Marrakesh with Ryanair and expanded to Antalya with SunExpress in May, LBA also looks forward to a busy 2025 schedule with a wealth of new routes.

Jet2.com has expanded its Summer 2025 program, adding an additional aircraft at the base and increasing frequencies on numerous routes, while easyJet prepares to launch Geneva in January 2025 alongside Spanish destinations Malaga and Palma from March 2025.

Despite LBA predominantly serving European destinations, the airport seeks to expand its reach across the Middle East with ongoing infrastructure developments and the introduction of the A321XLR opening a range of opportunities to serve new markets.

Recognizing opportunities within the region during attendance at Routes World 2024 in Bahrain, Hodder added: “With all the growth taking place in the Middle East, what a great way for us as an industry to focus on the region where so much is happening.”