Leeds Bradford Airport Terminal has been an effective gateway for travellers in Yorkshire and beyond for years. Its operation started in the early 1930s and has grown significantly since then. This year, however, represents a significant milestone in its plans to remain in the big leagues. The airport recorded a new milestone of over three million passengers in 2025, marking one of its busiest years in history. However, it will improve from here, having recently unveiled its £100 million investment. Regional airports are stepping up, and flying through Leeds Bradford Airport just got much smoother. Here’s a closer look at the recently announced developments and how they improve passenger experiences.
Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) Terminal Upgrades at Scale
Most businesses prioritising customers often outperform the rest, and LBA’s latest terminal investment is a clear example. Leeds Bradford opened the first phase of its new £100 million terminal extension in June 2025, with plans to further the next phase in 2026. One of the major highlights of this project was to increase comfort for passengers, and there is no doubt that they did achieve this goal. The construction delivered 83% more seating than the previous setting. Architecturally, the extension also introduced uninterrupted runway views to increase the visual appeal to travellers. We discovered other additions like faster baggage reclaim and passport control.
One of the most prevailing pain points for many travellers is waiting for luggage, and with the recent upgrade, passengers can experience fewer delays and faster turnaround times. To complement the baggage improvements, the arrival experience was also worked on to complement the baggage improvements, so overall flying seems less of an ordeal and smoother for passengers. The priority of the phase one upgrade was clear in the design, and considering how much LBA’s passenger count shot up in August, it’s easy to see that the airport succeeded in delivering as planned. They broke records in August, with 530,000 passengers, making it their busiest month ever. 2025 overall has welcomed over three million passengers. Results like this show how much improving the system means to customers.
The second phase of the development is also well underway, and this time will focus on refurbishing existing terminal infrastructure for both private jet and commercial flights. With this next phase, the airport aims to improve every step of the passengers’ journey without leaving anything behind. At the same time, they are focusing on ensuring that the airport remains operational even amidst construction. Although this will be challenging, the team is dedicated to making it work. As the CEO of Leeds Bradford Airport, Vincent Hodder, noted, “Running a live construction site while continuing to deliver record passenger numbers is no small feat, and I’m incredibly proud of the way our teams have gone above and beyond.” Ultimately, this phase will ensure LBA expands and elevates the quality of its passenger experiences.
Why It Matters
These upgrades are more than just fancy changes. They directly impact the quality of travel and keep them coming back. Looking at LBA’s statistics, the airport handled over 4.24 million passengers in 2024, a 5.8% increase over 2023. Flights also increased by 6.2% yearly, to almost 32,000 flights. Their dedication to improving passengers’ quality of travel keeps their customers coming back, and more coming on board. A survey by the Airport Operators Association found that UK travellers expect to wait no more than 12 minutes for UK/EEA passport control and 25 minutes for non-EEA travellers. Queues exceeding 45 minutes for non-EEA nationals are often seen as a failure in passenger experience. This explains why passenger control was another priority in this upgrade.
The focus of this project addresses critical touchpoints where delays and discomfort are often more visible to passengers. No one wants to book another flight after spending an hour on passport control and having their baggage misplaced, usually, among other irregularities. Seating and faster reclaim are essential for passengers. Baggage handling and passport control matter even more as passenger volume increases. LBA’s terminal upgrade is significant for Leeds and Bradford, as a case study on how regional airports should continually prioritise service and quality.
Raising The Bar for Regional Airports
Leeds Bradford is proving that regional airports can deliver far more than basic conveniences for travellers; without doubt, this should be the standard. The upgrades are keeping pace with record passenger numbers and reshaping expectations of what regional travel should feel like. The needs of passengers should come first, and with countless reports showing their major grievances, there is no room for negligence. Aviation companies are also businesses, and there should be a constant reminder that every entrepreneur is obligated to prioritise their consumers’ everyday experiences.
