Plans for a major expansion and upgrading of Leeds-Bradford International Airport, which would double passenger numbers and create up to 2,000 new jobs, have been unveiled.

Airport owner Bridgepoint is to invest £28 million in improving and expanding the main terminal as part of a five-year £70m investment plan for the airport at Yeadon as a whole.

John Parkin, chief executive, said the aim was to make LBIA a “best in class” airport and meet future demand for air travel which is expected to see passenger numbers rise to about five million a year by 2013.

Plans are being submitted to Leeds City Council later this month and airport chiefs hope to get the go-ahead for the development by April next year.

The aim is to deliver a step change in the passenger experience at the airport as it prepares for the next decade of air travel.

Airport bosses have been working with a team of leading consultants to deliver significant improvements to the terminal building which presently suffers from congestion, insufficient circulation space and is poorly designed for segregating arrivals and departures.

The proposals include a two-storey extension to the landside face of the existing terminal and internal modifications to the current building to provide additional space, an improved layout and circulation in the concourse and at check-in.

There will be a new and expanded passenger security screening zone, a new departure lounge with central seating with natural light from a glazed roof, improvements to the domestic baggage reclaim hall and a remodelling of the airside immigration facilities.

The plans do not involve any extension to the runway, additional car parking outside the airport or any significant increase in night flights.

Mr Parkin said development of LBIA was necessary to bring it up to, and provide, a modern gateway for travellers.

The airport added, on average, one new route a month and now served 76 destinations.

He said the upgrade could mean reducing the number of cars crossing the Pennines to Manchester airport by two and a half million, so reducing congestion and pollution.

Over the next five years £70m would be invested in total to improve facilities including a new £5m fuel farm, improved aircraft stands, more covered passenger walkways to aircraft and new fire tenders.

Mr Parkin said: “Our exciting plans to improve the terminal building will transform LBIA. We will be creating modern, spacious and service-focused facilities designed to make the airport easy and convenient to use.

“The terminal proposals will also deliver impressive new facilities which will integrate with the existing building sympathetically in scale and design.

“We are passionate in our determination to deliver a passenger experience for the next decade that offers the very best in airport design and service standards for the people of our region.

“We will value and look forward to hearing their comments on our proposals as we prepare our planning application.”

The plans are on display at St Margaret’s Church Hall, Horsforth, today from 4.30pm to 8pm; Yeadon Town Hall tomorrow from 4pm to 7pm; and Morrisons, High Street, Yeadon, on Thursday and Friday 4.30pm to 8pm.

Information is also available at the airport and online at lbia.co.uk by clicking on ‘Building a better airport for you’.

e-mail: chris.holland @telegraphandargus.co.uk