Leeds Bradford Airport's £100m extension opens to passengers
Details of the privately funded project were first announced in 2018, but were quickly eclipsed by a more ambitious plan to build a brand new terminal at the south end of the runway.Airport bosses scrapped that scheme in 2022 because of "excessive delays" and a decision to hold a public inquiry into the development, with building on the extension starting in 2023.
Work on the next stage of the airport's reconfiguration will begin later this year, with a full refurbishment of the existing terminal and a new security hall.Asked if a terminal extension meant there would be more flights, Mr Hodder said: "By the time we get to the 2030s and 2040s we would certainly expect to be exceeding the capacity of this terminal."That will require another wave of investment to increase the scope of the airport and meet the needs of Yorkshire."He added: "It's vitally important to upgrade LBA to the world-class facility Yorkshire deserves."The airport said the terminal extension and redevelopment of the original buildings had the potential to create 1,500 direct jobs at LBA and 4,000 indirect jobs by 2030.
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