Leeds / Bradford Airport Forum | LBA the only airport to grow next year

Taken from UK Airport News::

Leeds Bradford will be the only UK airport to grow next year as the aviation industry continues to struggle with the impact of the global recession, the Telegraph & Argus reports its Chief Executive has claimed. The airport will benefit from the new Ryanair flights, but given that Edinburgh has grown for the last 7 months in a row and other airports will be comparing next year to much lower figures this year, we think many UK airports will grow – or at least not shrink - next year.

Leeds Bradford Airport boss John Parkin told a Bradford business gathering that his airport was on track for ‘double digit’ growth in 2010, as work continued to increase the number of direct routes from 79 to 120. He said: ‘In 2010, LBIA will achieve double digit growth and will be the only UK airport to show any growth, let alone double digit.’

He also revealed that work would start on the new £28 million terminal development in the first half of next year, although an exact date had still to be set. The new two storey terminal is a key part of a £70 million five-year transformation programme by the airport’s owner Bridgepoint and is designed to double passenger numbers to five million and provide better facilities.

Good stuff, although LBA badly needs some non-airport investment in accessibility. Getting there and back is not exactly easy and it needs improved surface links.