Bosses at Leeds-Bradford Airport yesterday insisted a £11million improvement scheme is on schedule as they provided the first glimpse of the major refurbishment.

And LBA commercial director Tony Hallwood said the new-look terminal would “set the standard for regional airports” when it is completed this summer.

Work began at the Yeadon site in December and will see a larger departure lounge, Yorkshire Premier Lounge and new food and drink units, including the Saltaire bar, a new covered walkway to aircraft stands and a re-modelled security search zone.

It is part of a bigger £29 million development project for the entire site, which bosses believe will help double the contribution to the local economy in the next decade.

Workers are on site 21 hours a day to complete the revamp, which will see a 60 per cent increase in duty-free space and a 40 per cent increase in security-check area space.

It will also see increased duty-free offers and passengers will now be able to look out over the runway while waiting for a flight.

Yesterday, on a tour of the worksite, Mr Hallwood said everything is on course to meet the “tight” finishing target.

“We want to provide an airport that really will stand the test of time; that provides a much more modern and contemporary feel against an airport that in some areas is old-fashioned,” he said.

“We want to bring it into the 21st century in one fell swoop. There is already a certain new excitement about what we are about to deliver.

“It won’t be more of the same, but modern and contemporary and something that will set the standard for regional airports.

The first phase of the work, including the duty-free area, is expected to be finished by the middle of May, with the whole project completed during July.