Leeds-Bradford Airport is bracing itself for its busiest ever Christmas and New Year, with more than 50,000 passengers expected to pass through the terminal over the holiday period.

The festive rush tops off a year which has seen record numbers of passengers – more than 3.2 million so far.

 The winter hotspots of Tenerife and Lanzarote top the destination chart, as holidaymakers go in search of guaranteed sunshine, while Innsbruck is the latest destination to be added to the airport’s list of ski routes.

 Other popular domestic destinations flying from Leeds Bradford this Christmas include London Heathrow, Belfast, Glasgow and Aberdeen, whilst Amsterdam, Prague and Paris remain firm favourites for European city breaks. 

The airport’s peak travel day is predicted to be Boxing Day.

 Tony Hallwood, Aviation Development and Marketing Director at the airport said they were looking forward to their busiest ever Christmas.

 “Whilst many people are jetting off in search of some winter sun or for a spot of skiing, we also look forward to welcoming inbound visitors to Yorkshire, whether they are returning home or spending Christmas in our region enjoying Yorkshire’s famous hospitality,” he said.

 “Regardless of whether they are coming or going, our airport ambassadors will be on hand to provide a warm welcome to all our passengers over the Christmas period.”