Regular users of Leeds-Bradford Airport, you’re about to see some huge changes. The Yorkshire transport hub is set to get started on an enormous renovation project that is worth a whopping £100 million.
Set to start this autumn and be completed sometime in 2026, the revamp will include a three-story extension to the side of the terminal and a refurbishment of the main building. Overall, the glow-up will apparently ‘dramatically improve the passenger experience and help unlock economic growth for the region’.
The airport’s owners originally wanted to build a new terminal but that never went ahead due to planning delays. Permission for this makeover was given in 2019 and it has now been given the final go-ahead.
Bosses hope that LBA’s revamp will create 5,000 new job and inject almost £1 billion into the local economy. It will create more seats for passengers, quicker security checks and brand new shops and restaurants. Also included in the plans is greater access for people with restricted mobility, a bigger baggage reclaim and a larger immigration hall.
Vincent Hodder, the airport’s chief exec, said this ‘marks the beginning of a new era’ for the hub.
Hodder added: ‘This investment will give us the infrastructure needed to deliver an outstanding customer experience, support the growth of our airline partners, enhance connectivity for business, investment and trade and provide the airport that Leeds, Bradford and Yorkshire have been waiting for.’
Time Out’s take
Leeds-Brad isn’t the only UK airport getting a bit of TLC. Bristol Airport is also getting some swanky upgrades and Manchester’s flight hub is getting a massive £1.3 billion glow-up. Exciting stuff! But they all have a long way to go if they hope to compete with these mind-blowing airports, which are the very best in the world.
ICYMI: this small English airport has been named the best in the world.
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