Leeds Bradford International Airport (LBA)
History, Facts and Overview

(Leeds, England)

Leeds Airport began its life in 1931, when it opened as a local airport in the suburb town of Yeadon. In just a matter of years, regular scheduled flights were linking a number of cities in Scotland and England, and even the Isle of Man. The outbreak of war in 1939 saw Leeds Bradford Airport used predominantly for military purposes and additional runways were added at this stage.

By the 1950s, civilian passenger flights were in full swing, linking further destinations, such as Belfast and the Channel Islands. Towards the end of the 1960s, a new runway had been added and a terminal building opened, and just ten years later, it was decided to fully upgrade Leeds Airport to become an important regional airport. After many more improvements and the addition of new airlines, Leeds Bradford International Airport (LBA) was privatised in 2007 and is now owned by Bridgepoint Capital.


Onsite duty free outlets are operated by Alpha Airport Shopping, where you can purchase everything from jewellery to designer goods. A children's play area, various ATMs and a games arcade are also available at Leeds Bradford Airport and based around the main concourse, together with a well-equipped food court area known as the 'Food Village', and a traditional Yorkshire pub.

Business class passengers have a choice of two executive lounges in departures, with the Servisair Lounge providing extensive facilities, along with the Diamond Club Lounge. The departures area at Leeds Bradford Airport also boasts Wi-Fi technology, allowing passengers with laptops to access the Internet with ease.