Our Review of Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA)

Our Review of Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA)

All the information featured on this page was compiled and written by David Enrich, a renowned expert in aviation and airport guides, since 1999.

At Plan Your Trips, we have analyzed hundreds of airports around the world, gaining a clear understanding of what users expect when visiting an airport. With this know-how, we have created this guide, placing passengers at the forefront of everything, aiming to simplify and enhance the airport experience.

In this Guide, our goal is to present information in a manner that is both quick and reliable. Recognizing that passengers often have limited time and may be in a hurry, we strive to ensure that they do not waste time unnecessarily.

Another key focus of our guide is to highlight the strengths of the airport and also the weaknesses, and in some cases, offer recommendations to travelers. In alignment with this approach, we provide users with aggregated information on delays and on-time performance, analyzing both airlines and individual flights.

Pros and Cons of Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA)

Pros

• The airport offers a wide range of direct flights to popular destinations in Europe, North Africa, and even some long-haul routes, with airlines like Jet2.com and Ryanair providing frequent connections to Spain and the Mediterranean.
• It is conveniently located about 16 km northwest of Leeds city centre, making it easily accessible by car, taxi, or public transport, such as the Flyer bus (route 757) which connects the airport to Leeds for approximately £3.30.
• The terminal has undergone significant expansion, resulting in improved facilities, more space, and a better selection of shops, restaurants, and lounges for travelers.
• The airport is well-organized for parking, offering several options for short and long stays, with clear signage and limits to ensure availability.
• Leeds Bradford Airport is a key gateway for the Yorkshire region, supporting both business and leisure travel with good connections to local transport networks.

Cons

• The airport can experience delays and confusion, particularly with baggage reclaim, as reported by travelers in cases where luggage belts are reassigned or there are long waits.
• Public transport options, while present, may be less frequent late at night, and connections to other cities can require multiple changes or longer travel times.
• The airport is relatively small compared to major UK hubs, which can mean limited seating and crowded areas during peak times.
• Some users have noted that the weather conditions in the region (fog, wind) can occasionally lead to flight disruptions or challenging landings.
• Prices for certain services, such as on-site parking or last-minute tickets, can be higher than at larger airports with more competition.

Mini-Guide of the Airport (2' Guide)

Leeds Bradford Airport (IATA: LBA, ICAO: EGNM) is Yorkshire’s largest and busiest airport, strategically located in Yeadon, about 7 miles northwest of Leeds city centre and 9 miles northeast of Bradford. Serving over 4 million passengers annually, it is the main international gateway for Leeds, Bradford, York, Harrogate, and the wider Yorkshire region.

Brief History & Development

Opened in 1931 as Leeds and Bradford Municipal Aerodrome, the airport originally focused on general aviation and training. It played a significant role in WWII as a major aircraft production site. After the war, the airport expanded, with a new runway in 1965 and a replacement terminal in 1968 following a fire. The 1980s saw further runway extensions, enabling transatlantic flights and establishing LBA as a regional hub. Since the 1990s, the terminal has been continuously expanded, and today, the airport is undergoing a £100 million regeneration project, with a new terminal extension set to open in summer 2025.

Terminal & Facilities

LBA has a single, modern terminal designed for efficiency and passenger comfort. The ongoing expansion will introduce a spacious new departure lounge, enhanced seating, expanded retail and dining options, and streamlined arrivals with upgraded security and baggage reclaim areas. The airport also features two new customer lounges, improved accessibility, and a commitment to sustainability, aiming for net-zero operations by 2030.

Airlines & Destinations

Leeds Bradford connects travelers to over 80 destinations across Europe and North Africa, with major airlines including Jet2.com, Ryanair, easyJet, KLM, Wizz Air, and TUI Airways. Popular routes include Alicante (the top destination in 2024), Dublin, Palma de Mallorca, Amsterdam, and Malaga. The airport continues to add new routes and increase flight frequencies, supporting both holidaymakers and business travelers.

Ground Transport

The airport is well connected by public transport, with frequent Flyer buses to Leeds, Bradford, and Harrogate, as well as taxis, rideshares, and on-site car hire. The Car Rental Centre is just a short walk or free shuttle ride from the terminal, offering vehicles from leading brands like Avis, Enterprise, and Hertz. Multiple parking options are available, from short-stay to long-term, all within easy reach of the terminal.

Key Stats & Future Vision

• Over 4.24 million passengers in 2024, with steady growth each year.
• Nearly 32,000 flights operated in 2024, averaging 87 flights per day.
• Targeting 7 million annual passengers by 2030, supported by ongoing investment and expansion.

Final Word

Leeds Bradford Airport combines a rich history with modern facilities and ambitious plans for the future. Whether you’re flying for business, a family holiday, or exploring Yorkshire, LBA offers a convenient, comfortable, and continually improving travel experience, positioning itself as a key gateway for the north of England.

How we calculate On Time Performance

On various pages of our website, you will encounter a metric widely utilized in aviation and other forms of transportation known as OTP (On Time Performance). We believe that providing this metric assists passengers in planning their trips and exploring alternatives before purchasing their flight tickets.

We calculate the On Time Performance for all flights and airlines, when we have enough data to do so. In certain instances, it may not be feasible to accurately compute the On-Time Performance for a specific flight or airline due to inadequate or non-representative data, which could result in misleading conclusions.

Our calculation of On Time Performance and delay information solely relies on arrival times. This approach is chosen over calculating departure delays, as we consider arrival punctuality to be of primary concern to passengers.

The On Time Performance displayed on our website is calculated as follows:

• On Time: Flights that arrive within 15 minutes of their scheduled arrival time, or earlier. In the absence of data for a specific flight, we assume the flight arrives on time, to avoid penalizing airlines for data unavailability.
• Moderate Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay of 15 to 30 minutes.
• Significant Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay of 30 to 60 minutes.
• Major Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay exceeding 60 minutes.
• Average Delay: The average delay is calculated by considering flights that arrive early as having a delay of 0 minutes. Early arrivals do not contribute to reducing the average delay calculation

Some Stats

Airlines with more flight operations (last 3 months)

Airlines with best on-time performance at Leeds Airport (last 3 months)

Routes with more flights from Leeds Airport (last month)