2020 in numbers

As we near the end of what has been a somewhat different year, we've rounded up the figures so you can see everything we've been up to - enjoy!

COVID-19

It feels only right to begin with the largest topic of 2020 (and one I'm sure we all wish could be left behind!):

• Since its launch at the beginning of the pandemic, we have welcomed almost 25,000 visitors to our COVID-19 help page
• Nearly 10,000 items of PPE have been given to staff
• 6 state-of-the-art fogging machines are being used throughout the terminal (alongside one self-operating robot and a sanitising portal) at frequent touchpoints
• We have used approximately 240 litres of hand gel and 200 litres of sanitising solution
• While our lounges and outlets were temporarily closed, our Flight Bites cafe sold 6884 items of takeaway food, drinks and snacks

Airport improvements

Despite a challenging year, we have been spending our time wisely and continue to prioritise the passenger experience with many new improvements to our services, including:

• The airport temporarily closed between March and June 2020, so the team used this time and 2,490 litres of paint to re-line the runway, transforming our appearance from the sky
• Over £58,000 has been spent to refurbish all on-site bathroom facilities, which have a rigorous 24-hour cleaning schedule
• The newly refurbished Yorkshire Lounge was unveiled earlier this year, and during this time, we welcomed 34 4 and 5-star reviews on its TripAdvisor page

Operations

Many of our day-to-day operations have remained the same throughout 2020, and for some parts of the airport it's been "business as usual":

• Our Special Assistance team have helped on average 1,066 PRM (passengers with restricted movement) per month
• 2 brand-new routes are now available to book direct from Yorkshire's Airport in 2021 - the picturesque Greek islands of Santorini and Skiathos
• We welcomed 3 new routes this year to Newquay, Belfast and Vilnius

Community

This year has allowed the team at LBA to show some community spirit, and we have welcomed new and unique challenges never seen before!

• While flight operations were reduced, the LBA team took on the 'Runway Relay', completing over 1,151 runway lengths both at home and on the airfield. The event raised £9,820 for Yorkshire Air Ambulance
• A £10,000 donation to one of our chosen charities, Martin's House Hospice, offered welcome support to vulnerable communities. Alongside this, both the lounges and outlets donated many perishable items to local food banks during a time of need
• Throughout December, Aviation Action took to runways throughout the UK (and beyond!) including LBA. Since launching the endeavour, they have raised £15,000 (and counting!) - we are delighted to support their efforts
• To support our thriving local aviation community, we began an official Facebook group, headed by our very own operations team. Since its inception in May 2020, we have welcomed over 1,208 members

Replacement terminal

In January 2020 we launched our bid to improve passenger experience, deliver one of the UK's most environmentally efficient airport buildings, and support the region’s economic prosperity; in the form of a brand-new replacement terminal building. Since then:

• Over 1,274 letters of support were submitted to Leeds City Council during the consultation period
• A petition recently launched by a local LBA support group has seen over 1,000 signatures (and counting!)

If the terminal is approved, it will

• Contribute £869 million to the region's economy
• Support 12,650 permanent jobs and 850 construction-related positions
• Make the airport net-zero by 2023

Find out more about the transformation plans >