UK Aviation Minister visits Leeds Bradford as airport extension begins

Major progress has been made on a project to improve the passenger experience at Leeds Bradford Airport, the Aviation Minister saw first-hand on a visit.

At Leeds Bradford Airport, Aviation Minister Liz Sugg saw construction begin on a major extension to the main airport terminal building, the airport’s biggest investment to date.

The extension will significantly improve travel experiences for passengers, including larger immigration and baggage reclaim areas, better departure gate facilities, more shopping and food outlets and additional free seating.

Sugg said: “The development at Leeds Bradford Airport will not only further strengthen it as an important global gateway to Yorkshire, but will also provide passengers with an exceptional travelling experience to and from the region. Improvements for local communities as well as major infrastructure projects like investment at Leeds station, Northern Powerhouse rail, HS2 and Heathrow expansion will continue to bring our country closer together, helping people move around more quickly and easily than ever before.

This progress continues to build on the major investment already going on in the area, including more than £170 million being invested by government in wider public transport improvements in the Leeds area.

By 2020, the government will have pumped a record £13 billion into transport investment across the north, including in developing major infrastructure projects such as HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail. A new runway at Heathrow Airport will also bring big benefits to Yorkshire – better connecting the region to the rest of the country, increasing regional exports and driving local growth.