Passenger Numbers on the Rise as Leeds Bradford AIrport heads into a Transformational Year

Passengers in 2025 will see phase 1 of the transformative terminal expansion opening in time for summer 2025 holidays

2025 is set to be a big year for Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) with phase 1 of the £100 million terminal regeneration on track to be complete, allowing even more customers to depart from Yorkshire’s largest airport. This is welcome news for the region as LBA has today released figures that confirm both passenger numbers and flights continue to increase at a positive rate.

2024 saw a 5.8% rise in passengers travelling from LBA compared to 2023, with over 4.24 million people taking to the skies across almost 32,000 flights throughout the year (averaging 87 flights a day!), a 6.2% increase from 2023.

Alicante remained LBA’s most popular destination in 2024, with over 50,000 more passengers flying to the lively Costa Blanca resort than in 2023. Dublin and Palma De Mallorca also made up the top three destinations for passenger numbers in 2024 from LBA, in a year that saw several new destinations added and more routes added to existing destinations, giving passengers more choice than ever before from Yorkshire.

At the end of 2024, LBA released updated visuals of the ongoing regeneration project, providing consumers with a glimpse of the new space that will include new spacious baggage collection areas, enhanced security facilities as well as two new customer lounges for optimal passenger comfort. With expanded retail and dining options, alongside improved accessibility, the terminal is set to deliver an improved experience for all travellers in 2025.

The new terminal extension, a cornerstone of LBA’s commitment to sustainability and regional growth, will deliver a modern, efficient facility, setting new standards in passenger comfort. The expansion will also support increased capacity while aligning with LBA’s ambition to be a leader in sustainable airport operations.

The first phase of the regeneration project is set to be complete in spring/summer 2025, where guests will be able to enjoy an elevated experience upon their return and welcomed into the new terminal extension before attention switches to phase two of the project, which involves redeveloping the existing terminal.

January 2025 also sees the airport launch its Peaks campaign “Faff Less. Holiday more”. The creative campaign will be seen and heard across various platforms from outdoor advertising to radio spots, showcasing the benefits and ease of travelling from Leeds Bradford Airport this year. 

Tom Holdsworth, Leeds Bradford’s Aviation Development Manager commented:

“It’s been a remarkable year here at LBA and it’s great to see numbers of both passengers and flights continue to increase at a good level. Our existing partners including easyJet, Jet2, KLM, Ryanair and Wizz Air have continuously increased the number of flights and destination offerings for customers travelling from LBA throughout the year, plus we’ve welcomed SunExpress as a new airline partner.

“2025 is a really exciting year for us as the terminal regeneration really comes to life and we’ll see customers enjoy a new travel experience from LBA in the Summer.”

For more information follow the Leeds Bradford Airport social media channels.