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Leeds Bradford Airport unveils £200 million Vision 2030 Strategy to boost Yorkshire’s connectivity

Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) has unveiled its ambitious Vision 2030 strategy, which includes a £200 million investment from the private sector aimed at transforming passenger experience, driving sustainable growth and enhancing Yorkshire’s international connectivity. This strategic plan is set to generate up to 5,500 new jobs and contribute nearly £1 billion to the local economy, with an anticipated growth to seven million passengers per year by 2030.

The Vision 2030 strategy is a significant step forward, building upon LBA’s recent LBA:REGEN development.

The plan includes a strong focus on sustainability, aligning with the airport’s goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2030 – one of the most ambitious targets of any UK airport.

Key initiatives include the decarbonisation of transport links, investment in solar-powered infrastructure on-site and the expansion of electric vehicle (EV) charging facilities.

The airport also reaffirms its support for the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s mass transit system proposals, which aim to connect the airport to an integrated cycling, walking, bus, and rail network.

Mayoral praise: Tracy Brabin hails a better-connected West Yorkshire

A central feature of the Vision 2030 plans is the expansion of terminal floorspace by 38%, alongside significant investment in the airfield to introduce up to ten new aircraft stands. These new stands are intended to attract quieter, more efficient aircraft, boost the number of destinations served and enhance existing routes.

The airport is also keen to secure additional routes to European hub airports, as well as new destinations in the North Atlantic and the Middle East.

Vincent Hodder, CEO of Leeds Bradford Airport, described the strategy as “a new era of travel for the region,” highlighting its potential to enhance international connectivity, support local economic growth, and attract global investment. He emphasised the airport’s commitment to a net-zero carbon future, stating,

Our commitment is bold and ambitious, but we are firm in our stance to build a net-zero carbon future for the airport.

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, praised the Vision 2030 strategy,

Leeds Bradford Airport’s ‘Vision 2030’ document clearly states how the airport will improve Yorkshire’s connection to the rest of the world. This substantial private investment will benefit local communities and the wider Yorkshire region, serving as a catalyst for considerable, long-term economic growth.

The airport’s plans promise to create a range of skilled jobs and bolster connectivity among key international markets, creating new opportunities for Yorkshire business overseas.

The commitment to net zero carbon emissions for the airport’s ground operations is a great first step.

Industry-wide, there’s much still to do to decarbonise aviation as a whole, and I look forward to seeing how Leeds Bradford can contribute to that. We have performed competitively as a region for several decades, despite longstanding issues with connectivity.

But, alongside my plan for significantly improved public transport in a better-connected West Yorkshire, now is the perfect time to improve the international gateway to our region.

Vincent Hodder: “a new era of travel for the region”

Looking beyond 2030, Leeds Bradford Airport has also outlined longer-term ambitions, including the potential development of a new purpose-built terminal, the construction of a new hotel within walking distance of the airport, and the expansion of specialist air freight services.

For more information on flights from Leeds Bradford Airport, please contact your Global Travel Management Account Manager.

Teesside regains London Heathrow route with Eastern Airways

Teesside International Airport will regain its link to London Heathrow with Eastern Airways launching its first ever schedule flights from London’s world hub airport.

From 14 September 2020, the Teesside–Heathrow service will be served by a 76-seat E-Jet Embraer 170 aircraft, following a gap of more than a decade. The airline will initially offer a daily service to the capital which will offer passengers from Durham, Middlesbrough, Darlington, Hartlepool, Teesside and North Yorkshire hundreds of onward connections to the world.

This latest news at Teesside is a further expansion of Eastern Airways’ developing route network from the north east airport. Since restrictions have been eased following the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown, the airline has reintroduced Teesside flights to Aberdeen and Belfast City while starting new routes to London City and Newquay.

The daily departures are timed to maximise the array of world-wide connections available while also supporting quick and easy access to London and the South-East on the circa 1-hour flight.

Roger Hage, Eastern Airways’ General Manager Commercial & Operations, said

As the UK’s Regional Airline, the opportunity for Eastern Airways to connect Teesside to London Heathrow, the UK’s primary hub for worldwide connections is significant in the region’s economic prosperity and economic recovery. Offering an initial daily e-Jet operated service helps add further London capacity and makes reaching the capital or getting to the North East a little over an hour away, with the array of connections world-wide this opens up. We look forward with our partners at Teesside International Airport and London Heathrow Airport to restoring such a major air-link missing for over a decade.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said

Ben Houchen – we have flights to one of our most-requested destinations

Since I did a deal to take back control of our airport last year to save it from closure, we’ve announced some brilliant new daily and seasonal routes.

But whenever I’ve revealed a new service people have said, ‘that’s great, but what about a connection to Heathrow?’

Well, I can now say we have flights to one of our most-requested destinations, and it starts next month. Whether people from Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool are looking to travel for business or pleasure, they now have a range of options for getting to London.

This is another massive vote of confidence in our airport and I’d like to thank Heathrow and Eastern Airways for working with us to realise a key route for any serious airport.

Our airport is much more than just flights though; it is hugely important to our local economy and it is playing a key part in my plan for jobs. I’ve always said that investment won’t come on a bus, it will come through our airport terminal which in turn will create good quality local jobs for local workers.

John Holland-Kaye, Chief Executive of Heathrow Airport, said

John Holland-Kaye – delighted that Eastern Airways will launch a Heathrow connection

We are delighted that Eastern Airways will launch a new connection between Teesside and Heathrow for the first time in over a decade. Adding the UK’s hub airport to Teesside’s network demonstrates the growth ambitions of the Tees Valley region, and will provide a vital levelling-up boost – unlocking a huge amount of potential for the region as we build the UK’s economic recovery.

Heathrow is committed to strengthening our regional connections across the UK with our discount on domestic routes, and we believe this new service will be a springboard for the great businesses in the region to reach out to the world. We’re looking forward to welcoming the first passengers in September.

Initially Eastern Airways’ usual complimentary on-board service will be limited to facilitate reduced customer contact.

Services continue to be carefully reintroduced since Covid-19 restrictions began to ease with extensive cleaning measures on-board and throughout all aspects of the airport. A full anti-bacterial wipe down of all touch points between every service operated and also a comprehensive aircraft night-stop sanitisation is implemented.

Eastern Airways was formed in 1997 and had moved quickly, prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, to return back to its own standalone booking facilities after its former franchise partner, Flybe, went into administration earlier in March.

The Humberside Airport-based carrier offers a network of routes from airports including Aberdeen, Anglesey, Belfast City, Cardiff, Dublin, Humberside, Isle of Man, Leeds Bradford, London City, Manchester, Newcastle, Newquay, Southampton and Teesside International and a broad array of contract and ad-hoc charters with a mixed jet and turbo-prop fleet.

If you need to fly between Teesside and London – or any other route offered by Eastern Airways – contact your GTM Account Manager.

British Airways Summer 2013 Updates.

Please find below some important updates from British Airways for their summer (yes, remember the sun?) 2013 schedule.

  • **31 March** – Flights between London Heathrow, Singapore & Sydney will move from Terminal 3 to Terminal 5
  • 29 March – new service from London Gatwick to Tenerife
  • 31 March – new service from London Heathrow to Palma and Gatwick to Lanzarote
  • 27 April – start of a new weekend service London Heathrow – Ibiza
  • 31 March – flights to/from Leeds-Bradford and Zagreb (from London Heathrow) move from Terminal1 to Terminal 5
  • Flights suspensions – Dar Es Salaam & Tblisi.