A YEAR of record growth is being predicted by Leeds Bradford Airport.

The Yeadon airport is expecting to serve around three million passengers and lay on at least seven new scheduled services during 2006.

New figures show that more than 2.6 million passengers passed through its terminal on their way to 50-odd scheduled and charter destinations in 2005 - a growth of ten per cent on 2004.

This summer will see the introduction of new scheduled flights to Newquay, Bergerac, Rome, Pisa, Milan, Mahon and Warsaw, plus new charter flights to Corfu, Crete, Paphos and Rhodes.

That will take the total number of scheduled flights from LBA this summer to 36, a threefold increase on 2002 when there were only 12.

Ryanair has also now withdrawn its older B737-200 series aircraft from the Leeds Bradford to Dublin service, and replaced it with the modern, quieter B737-800.

LBA Managing Director Ed Anderson: "We are delighted with the prospect of at least 7 new scheduled services during the coming year and we will also be working hard to try to persuade an airline to introduce a service to one of the major cities in Germany this year."

Mr Anderson also welcomed the introduction of quieter aircraft. "The main cause of noise complaints over the past few years has been the B737-200 series aircraft operated by Ryanair, and we are very pleased that this has now been replaced by larger, significantly quieter B737-800 series aircraft.

"We are determined to be a good neighbour to the surrounding communities and Ryanair has taken a significant step in helping us achieve it."