AIRPORT staff are claiming last week's fuel crisis improved air quality by as much as a quarter.

Leeds-Bradford Airport chiefs are hailing the petrol blockades as a useful exercise in their plans to encourage employees to abandon their cars.

The management want to reduce the number of staff driving to work, and say the petrol shortage highlighted many of the issues of environmentally-friendly methods of transport.

Engineering manager John Wallis claimed there was a dramatic 25 per cent improvement in air quality because of the drop in car fumes.

The airport is currently working on a

transport strategy in a bid to reduce the number of cars carrying passengers and staff to the airport.

Mr Wallis said: "Last week's fuel crisis brought this into focus. A lot people tried to alter their travel plans. Some were car sharing, which we want to encourage, and also people came to work by bike."

However, he said the situation highlighted a need for better public transport, and showers and changing facilities for cyclists.

Mr Wallis said the airport is planning to set up a forum to discuss alternative methods of transport with staff.

"We will look at how to help them. We could set up a computer database of where people live, and try to find ways for them to get here, although this is something for the long term."

He added that the airport would look into improving public transport.