New Terminal Construction at Leeds Bradford Airport Begins

 Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) today, (Tuesday 6th December, 2011), announced the commencement of works on the next major stage of its passenger terminal development, with an £11 million construction project to deliver impressive new facilities and a significantly improved passenger experience.

This investment at Leeds Bradford highlights the strength of the Leeds City Region in supporting major infrastructure developments alongside securing and generating new jobs within the region.

The development, which is backed by the airport’s private equity owners Bridgepoint, delivers on its commitment to create ‘best in class’ facilities to enhance LBA’s status as the Yorkshire’s gateway airport.

 John Parkin, Leeds Bradford International Airport’s Chief Executive, said: ‘I am delighted to announce the next stage of our planned investment to transform the passenger terminal at Leeds Bradford Airport. It marks an important milestone in the development of Yorkshire’s airport and our desire to provide the very best facilities for our rapidly growing numbers of customers and airlines.

The broad economic conditions are challenging, but we are the UK’s fastest growing regional airport and with the strong support of our shareholders, Bridgepoint, we are confident now is the time to invest in our future.  The investment and developments we are announcing today demonstrate our determination to succeed, to continue to grow and to provide the region with the airport it wants and deserves”.

The terminal development will provide a 65% increase in airside space over two floors, creating a new departure lounge, a new range of upgraded food and beverage offers, a major walk through Tax and Duty Free store and additional retail units.

The Yorkshire Premier Lounge, which has received passenger and industry acclaim for its stylish and contemporary ambience, will be enlarged and developed to provide both a business and leisure product.

We will also be enlarging the security search zone, all of the boarding gate areas and building a covered walkway to aircraft from the terminal to deliver the very best in facilities and experience for our customers

Expanded UK Border facilities have already been delivered in 2011 from four to six channels.

Development Summary

• A new, enlarged departure lounge.
• Security search zone re-modelled to provide up to six channels.                                                                                            
• Increased Yorkshire Premier lounge floor space and enhancement of business and leisure lounge facilities.                                                                  
• Increased and improved retail experience alongside new food and beverage units.
• New covered walkway to aircraft stands.
• The terminal redevelopment will provide an additional 2500m² of airside departure lounge at first floor level of which 500m² is new construction. The  security search zone will be increased by approximately 250m ², equivalent to a 40% increase in area.

Regional Economy

The airport’s development supports the region's ambitions to deliver inward investment and boost inbound tourism by providing improved terminal facilities and the ability to attract even more airlines, route and services to Yorkshire.

The principal construction work will be carried out by Morgan Sindall Ltd Leeds’ office, employing over 100 construction workers at the airport and a substantial amount more indirectly through the supply chain. To stimulate our regional economy, Leeds Bradford Airport is committed, where feasible, to place sub contracts with local companies and suppliers.

The construction programme, which commences on the 6th December, will be led by Leeds Bradford Airport’s Engineering and Operations Director, Carl Lapworth. The work will be completed for Summer 2012. 

For further details about the airport terminal development visit

www.leedsbradfordairport.co.uk .

Key Airport Facts

• The airport operates direct services to over 70 destinations, across 22 countries.
• It serves 2.95 million passengers annually.
• LBA and its business partners support 2,700 jobs, many of whom live in the Leeds City Region.
• Its Gross Value Added (GVA) contribution to the region’s economy is an estimated £98.5 million, with the vast majority of this a direct result of the economic activity generated at Leeds Bradford Airport with further contributions to the visitor economy of the region.
  • LBA was the fastest growing airport in the UK in 2010/2011.
  • LBA provides scheduled connections to seven of Yorkshire’s Top Ten exporting destinations
  • Nine capital cities are linked by direct scheduled services from LBA.
  • LBA’s catchment area serves the Yorkshire’s population of 5.6 million.

Leeds City Region LEP Chair, Neil McLean, said: “Delivering Leeds Bradford Airport’s terminal development is going to be crucial to the future of the city region economy. Investing in better connectivity is at the heart of the LEP’s economic plans and will certainly be one of the vital forces in terms of increasing the city region’s economic power, help bring more jobs and attract more investment.”

To download terminal development images, please visit:

http://www.leedsbradfordairport.co.uk/about-the-airport/airport-development-2011