<h2 class="blog-hed2 pb-lg-4 pb-3 text-lg-center">History Leeds Bradford Airport</h2>
<p class="blog-para"><strong>Opening and early operations: </strong>What became Leeds Bradford Airport was built in the late 1920s and early 1930s on 60 acres of grassland next to the old Bradford to Harrogate road. On 17 October 1931, the airport, which was interchangeably known as Leeds and Bradford Municipal Aerodrome or Yeadon Aerodrome in its early years, was officially opened. Initially, the airport was operated by the Yorkshire Aeroplane Club on behalf of Leeds and Bradford Corporations. Its early operations were typified by training and general aviation flights</p>
<p class="blog-para"><strong>Wartime use: </strong>At the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, all civil aviation operations were halted. The aircraft manufacturer Avro constructed a shadow factory to the north of the aerodrome to manufacture military aircraft. The factory was connected to the aerodrome by a taxiway from where the aircraft made their way to make their maiden flights. The Avro factory was camouflaged, its roof disguised as a field with dummy cattle and agricultural buildings so that from the air it resembled the surrounding fields. Large numbers of houses were constructed nearby to house the workforce. The factory, which commenced production in 1941, was reportedly the largest free-standing structure in Europe at the time</p>
<h2 class="blog-hed2 pb-lg-4 pb-3 text-lg-left">Ground transport Leeds Bradford Airport</h2>
<p class="blog-para">Bus services to and from the airport are currently operated by Transdev Blazefield under the Flyer brand. The network currently consists of three routes. A1 to Rawdon, Horsforth, Hawksworth, Kirkstall and Leeds. A2 to Pool, Pannal and Harrogate to the North, and Yeadon, Rawdon, Apperley Bridge, Greengates, and Bradford to the South. A3 to Pool and Otley to the North, and Yeadon, Guiseley, Charlestown, Shipley and Bradford to the South.</p>
<p class="blog-para">Services were previously operated by Yorkshire Tiger, branded as 'Flying Tiger'. The routes were numbered 737 (A3), 747 (A2) and 757 (A1). The</p>
<p class="blog-para">tender was given to Transdev Blazefield in August 2020 due to Covid resulting in the routes no longer being commercially viable for Yorkshire Tiger. Bus services to the cities of Leeds and Bradford link the airport with the National Rail network via Leeds railway station, Bradford Interchange and Bradford Forster Square and connects with long-distance coach services at Leeds City bus station and Bradford Interchange.</p>
<p class="blog-para"><strong>Facilities Leeds Bradford Airport </strong></p>
<p class="blog-para">The airport has a terminal and two air bridges. It has 24 aircraft stands capable of handling up to Boeing 757 aircraft. The terminal has two check-in halls: Hall A is used by all airlines except Jet2 and Hall B is solely used by Jet2.Upstairs is a retail space with shops, restaurants, bars and a duty-free shopping area operated by World Duty Free. Food options include Greggs, Starbucks and Burger King. There are three lounges in the departures lounge. Long, medium and short-stay car parks provide 7,000 parking spaces at the airport, along with several drop off points.</p>
<p class="blog-para">The airport processes a small amount of freight from its two cargo sheds on site with a view to expanding this operation, a key focus of the business and master-plan objectives. The airport features a single runway of 2200 m (7200 ft.) oriented as 14 and 32. Until recently, there was a second shorter runway oriented 9 and 27, however it was closed in 2005 and converted into a taxiway.</p>
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