Leeds Bradford Airport is harnessing the latest technology to give passengers easier access to the internet.

The airport is one of only a few in the UK and one of the few public places in Europe to provide the new wireless Internet facility, Wi-Fi.

It is hoped the system, operated by UK Explorer and available airside in the airport's International Term-inal, will appeal to business passengers who use Leeds Bradford.

It will allow them to access the internet without the need for cables and without having to change the settings on their laptop or personal digital assistant (PDA), giving them the freedom to switch on and surf the net in any location in the terminal at any time.

The new facility has been made possible due to the installation of a small transmitter on existing internet kiosks at the airport.

The transmitter supplies internet signals over the airwaves, giving immediate access.

Cath Mason, the airport's Executive Director of Finance and Administration, said: "With the increasing need for business people to be connected, we see this as a service of great benefit to our business travellers."

Grant Cox, UK Explorer's Business Development Mana-ger, said: "We have drawn on our five years' experience providing public internet access to develop a system that is simple to use and requires no special software. It is a service that is ideally suited to Leeds Bradford Airport's many business travellers."

As long as laptop or PDA users have a Wi-Fi network card, access is simple. Once they have opened their internet browser, they are directed to a secure encrypted payment page.

And when credit or debit details are authenticated, internet access is given.

Those who don't have a Wi-Fi network card can still access the internet via the special kiosks in the terminal.