THE district’s airport is hoping 2022 will see a return to normality after two years of the lowest flight and passenger numbers since records began.

Last year, at Leeds Bradford Airport 14,566 planes took off or landed, which was a slight rise from 12,312 the year before but still way down on pre-pandemic levels.

In 2019, there were 35,641 flights at Leeds Bradford, showing that last year flight figures were still below half what was seen before the Covid-19 pandemic began.

The flight numbers in 2020 and 2021 were the lowest since comparable records began in 2010, data from the Civil Aviation Authority has revealed.

Passenger numbers also fell drastically last year, with 735,000 people passing through the Yeadon airport, down from 751,000 in 2020 and way down from four million in 2019.

There were also 180 ‘ghost flights’ into or out of Leeds Bradford between March 2020 and September 2021 – when planes are at less than 10 per cent capacity – mainly to transport cargo or repatriate stranded Brits.

But Leeds Bradford is anticipating a strong summer, with passenger numbers set to hit 75 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, three new Ryanair routes from the airport (to Paris, Barcelona and Zadar, Croatia).

There are also 60 new jobs opening to meet the rise in footfall as people head abroad again for their summer holidays, city-breaks and also for business.

A spokesperson for Leeds Bradford Airport said: “The pandemic obviously reduced the number of flights at LBA however the airport is now showing strong and sustained signs of recovery.

“We know our passengers are incredibly excited to go on holiday this year and our Summer 2022 forecasts reflect this.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming many people back to LBA, as travel restrictions ease and international travel returns.”

The figures follow the decision by Leeds Bradford Airport to scrap its plans for a new terminal building, citing "excessive delays" and the decision to hold a public inquiry.

Instead, the airport will now focus on the already-approved plans for an extension to the existing terminal to meet increasing demand in the coming years as air travel returns to normal levels and demand for flights increases.

The new terminal would have enabled the airport to increase capacity while meeting its zero-carbon targets but were met with staunch