Leeds-Bradford International Airport is gearing up for a busy Christmas season and looks set to buck the trend of fewer people travelling to and from the UK due to the credit crunch.

More than 50,000 passengers are expected to pass through the terminal over the festive period between tomorrow and New Year’s Day.

The trend flies in the face of recent figures from the Office of National Statistics which showed that the number of UK residents going abroad fell by six per cent to 16.4 million in the three months to October, with visitors to this country from abroad down by four per cent to 7.8m.

A airport spokesman said that passenger levels had risen by 1.3 per cent.

Passengers looking for a festive getaway from Leeds-Bradford have 35 sun and ski destinations to choose from with direct flights.

Domestic flights are also expected to be busy as families and friends fly home for the Christmas season, with flights to Glasgow, Edinburgh, London and Bristol proving popular.

Tony Hallwood, LBIA’s commercial and aviation development director, said: “With a wide choice of winter flights, it’s going to be a busy Christmas. “We look forward to welcoming passengers over the festive season as they fly from the airport on a winter sun, city or ski break or as they return home to Yorkshire to visit their families and loved ones.”