A LEADING Government minister said Leeds Bradford Airport will be strengthened by the announcement of a proposed third runway at Heathrow.

Aviation Minister Lord Ahmad visited the Yeadon site today following the Government's draft airports National Policy Statement (NPS) which includes the planning policy framework which the applicant for a new north west runway would have to comply with to receive development consent.

The report also sets out the need for additional airport capacity in the south east of England and the reasons why a north west runway at Heathrow is the Government's preferred scheme.

LBA will receive a further boost from the Government's announcement, as it already runs three return flights each day.

Lord Ahmad will also visit Jet2.com's headquarters in Bradford as part of his visit to the district today.

He said: "The route to Leeds Bradford Airport which operates to Heathrow is going to be strengthened.

"It's a success story, with 3.5 million people going through it. I want to see more of that happen.

"The announcement is not just about Heathrow and not just about the south east. It is how we position ourselves worldwide.

"There will be plenty of opportunities and more for more around the airport and beyond."

Tony Hallwood, aviation development director at LBA, said: "The Heathrow announcement is great news for LBA, for the Leeds City Region, including Bradford, and Yorkshire as a whole.

"It will deliver new jobs to the region. It will bring business opportunities and investment opportunities to the Leeds and Bradford region."

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, today visited leading leisure airline Jet2.com to learn more about the company’s growth plans and commitment to recruiting and developing people, including a tour of its multi-million pound training facility.

Lord Ahmad will also visit Jet2.com's headquarters in Bradford as part of his visit to the district today.

He visited the company’s headquarters in Leeds where he learned more about their development plans from senior figures within the business. 

Jet2.com's investment includes a multi-million pound state-of-the-art training centre in Bradford, which Lord Ahmad saw in operation. The centre acts as a fully integrated Flight Simulator and Cabin Safety & Emergency Procedures (SEP) training centre for both flight deck and cabin crew. It houses four full flight Simulators as well as cabin crew trainer units and a high-tech Computer Based Training (CBT) room for pilots.

Lord Ahmad said: “I am delighted to have been able to visit Jet2.com, and particularly to have met the next generation of engineers, pilots and cabin crew at the airline’s dedicated training facility, seeing first-hand what goes in to their award-winning customer services. 

"I welcome the investment they are making, allowing them to expand and grow in Leeds, and across the UK, including at their new bases at London Stansted and Birmingham.”

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