New Leeds Bradford Airport night flights application branded 'irresponsible' by campaign group

The Group for Action on Leeds Bradford Airport (GALBA) has spoken out against the airport’s latest planning application, which aims to increase night time flying, and called on Leeds City Council to intervene to resolve the dispute.

Leeds Bradford Airport announced it had submitted a new CLEUD (Certificate of Lawful Existing Use or Development) application last month, which seeks to establish the lawfulness of take-offs and landings at the airport at night by certain types of aircraft.

The application has been criticised by GALBA, who are opposed to any further expansion of the Yeadon-based airport, and previously pledged to “fight LBA all the way.”

“The airport wants a huge increase in the number of night flights. That would be very bad news for local people, the air we breathe and the climate we all depend on. It’s deeply irresponsible,” said Nick Hodgkinson, the group’s chair.

“But this whole mess could easily be sorted out if the Council simply made it lawful for the disputed planes to fly at night. If they did that, the number of night flights by those planes would be limited, instead of there being no limit at all.”

The airport is seeking permission to operate more night flights in a bid to attract more travellers, but the plans have been opposed by locals and campaign groups who say it will lead to more noise and disturbance.

Leeds Bradford Airport is currently permitted to operate a number of aircraft arrivals and departures between 11pm and 7am. The restrictions are over 30 years old and airport bosses say they place LBA at a competitive disadvantage compared to other UK regional airports.

In June last year, LBA celebrated the opening of its brand-new terminal building, featuring enhanced seating capacity, plus multiple new food and drink options and two premium lounges. Work on phase two of the £100 million project is already underway, which focuses on refurbishing the existing terminal.

Announcing the application, an airport spokesperson said: “The airport communicated in October 2025 that it was exploring the submission of a S73 planning application, however following discussions with LCC, it was decided by LBA that the most appropriate action at this stage was to submit a new CLEUD application based on the decision by the Planning Inspectorate in July 2025.

“LBA is currently permitted to operate a capped number of aircraft arrivals and departures during the night-time period of 2300 – 0700 hrs. These restrictions are over 30 years old and out of date with current CAA, DfT and government policy. They also place LBA at a competitive disadvantage compared to other UK regional airports to the detriment of the West Yorkshire economy.”

Relevant third parties have 21 days to submit relevant evidence to Leeds City Council - such as flight data, flight times, flight frequency and size of aircraft - relating to the specific operations at Leeds Bradford outlined in the application.

The Town and Country Planning Act 1990 gives local planning authorities discretion in certain circumstances to issue a call for evidence from third parties - including members of the public - when dealing with an application for a CLEUD.

City Council previously issued the airport with an enforcement notice in September 2024, after they were found to have breached noise rules. Two of three subsequent appeals were dismissed, including by a public inquiry in 2025.

“To be clear, no one is saying people should never take holidays abroad but frequent night time noise is harmful to the many thousands of people who live under the flight path,” Ian Coatman, GALBA’s Secretary added.

All public submissions must relate to the period covered by the airport’s evidence, which is January 1, 2010, through to December 31, 2019. Decisions on CLEUD applications are made purely on the basis of relevant factual evidence assessed against a legal test.

People who believe they have factual evidence relevant to the airport’s application are asked to email the information - including any verifying details - to the council at [email protected] no later than March 25.

The application - which relates to aircraft classed as being less than 87 EPNdB (Effective Perceived Noise Decibel) - can be found on the council’s public access planning system under reference number 26/00926/CLE.