Latest news with #VincentHodder
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
UK airport's baffling passport warning after huge £100m extension update
One of the UK's busiest airports has resorted to issuing a seemingly bizarre warning after unveiling its new e-gates, as the hub continues with its major £100m regeneration scheme A long-awaited revamp to a tiny UK airport has resulted in a rather strange passport warning being issued to Brits. Earlier this month, Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) revealed it had completed the first phase of its ambitious terminal expansion project, which is slated to cost a whopping £100 million. The upgrade boasts a host of new facilities including additional seating, two new lounges, an improved baggage reclaim area, and an upgraded passport control area. The new terminal, which all arriving and departing passengers will go through, has 83 per cent more seating, a range of food and drink offerings including a Burger King and a new bar, as well as a brand new Six Eight One Premium Lounge. LBA chief executive officer Vincent Hodder said it was the 'first major improvement to our terminal since its opening in 1968 and is long overdue'. Details of the refurbishment were first announced back in 2018 as part of bold plans to create a new terminal at the south end of the runway. However, the original blueprints were axed several years later due to 'excessive delays'. Buildings for the new extension then started in 2023. Part of the upgrade also includes new e-gates - which have appeared to have sparked confusion online. In a recent TikTok video, LBA showed off the machines, which require passengers to scan their boarding pass before being allowed through automatic gates, stating: "Do you hear that? You don't need your passport. You don't need your passport. You don't need your passport." LBA captioned the post: "You only need your boarding card (paper or digital) to go through our e-gates, NOT your passport!" However, some viewers misconstrued the post into thinking they no longer need to bring their passports along to the airport at all. "How would one get back [to the UK] if one never took a passport?" one person commented. Another wrote: "Oh this ain't going to go down well when people start turning up without passports," while a third pointed out: "Bold move from the graphic design team." Others criticised the airport for relying on the 'common sense' of the public to understand the post properly. The airport clarified in the comments section, that travellers 'obviously' do need a passport to leave the country, and that the post was explicitly referencing the e-gates. In a separate video, the hub joked about the confusion with a video captioned: "Can't believe we've got to say this but please don't try [and] travel without your passport..." Speaking to the Mirror about the humorous TikTok videos, a spokesperson for LBA said: "It's often best to take a light-hearted approach with some of the more routine airport processes that help us ensure customers are prepped and ready to travel in the best possible way. We've recently shared some light-hearted content to help customers use our newly installed security e-gates as well as responding to customers wanting to smoke after security. "For most, travelling through an airport is a fun time. We want to ensure customers have the necessary information to help make their journey run as smoothly as possible."
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
New UK airport terminal opens today after £100million expansion – with faster security and more restaurants
Plus, one of Europe's busiest airports is getting a new £3.6bn terminal next year offering a 'glimpse into future of travel' TAKE OFF New UK airport terminal opens today after £100million expansion – with faster security and more restaurants LEEDS Bradford Airport (LBA) has announced the opening of its new terminal today. The first phase of the airport's £100million expansion has been finished which means all passengers arriving and departing from the airport will experience the upgraded facilities. Advertisement 3 Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) has announced the opening of its new terminal today Credit: hatchagency 3 This is the first phase of the airport's £100million expansion project Credit: hatchagency These included a more modern arrivals process which includes a new baggage reclaim area and an upgraded passport control facility with new technologies. The airport also claims there is 83 per cent more seating and a wider offering of food and drink venues. Passengers can also now use two premium lounges, including a new Six Eight One Premium Lounge. The airport also shared that the second phase of the project at the airport has now begun, with a focus on refurbishing the existing terminal. Advertisement However, passengers should expect to see some changes at the airport in the coming months at the airport, especially with those departing from the airport. When travellers arrive, they will notice some of the work including a relocated meet and greet parking area and changes to the bus pick-up and drop-off zones. Back in March the airport released graphics of what parts of the new terminal look like, including sleek and stylish dining areas. Once the project is fully complete in 2026, there will be 39 per cent more floorspace, 76 per cent more retail space, 83 per cent more seating, 77 per cent increase in luggage reclaim belt capacity and 50 per cent more security lanes. Advertisement Vincent Hodder, CEO, Leeds Bradford Airport commented: "We are delighted to see our new terminal extension open and operational today. "It has been an incredible journey to get here, and we know our customers are going to get a completely new experience from LBA from today. The new £7billion mega terminal opening at Changi Airport "[T]he opening of this building is a huge achievement for all involved." John Cunliffe, commercial director of Leeds Bradford Airport commented: "Today is a huge milestone for Leeds Bradford Airport. Advertisement "Our new terminal is officially open and ready to welcome passengers, offering improve facilities and enabling us to deliver an enhanced experience for passengers in the region. "As we transition into Phase 2 of the project, the changes will impact the usual passenger flows, and we'd like to thank passengers in advance for their understanding." Another major UK airport's plans for millions more passengers ahead of £1.1bn expansion – with new flights to Europe this year. Plus, one of Europe's busiest airports is getting a new £3.6bn terminal next year offering a 'glimpse into future of travel'. Advertisement
The Sun
4 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
New UK airport terminal opens today after £100million expansion – with faster security and more restaurants
LEEDS Bradford Airport (LBA) has announced the opening of its new terminal today. The first phase of the airport's £100million expansion has been finished which means all passengers arriving and departing from the airport will experience the upgraded facilities. 3 These included a more modern arrivals process which includes a new baggage reclaim area and an upgraded passport control facility with new technologies. The airport also claims there is 83 per cent more seating and a wider offering of food and drink venues. Passengers can also now use two premium lounges, including a new Six Eight One Premium Lounge. The airport also shared that the second phase of the project at the airport has now begun, with a focus on refurbishing the existing terminal. However, passengers should expect to see some changes at the airport in the coming months at the airport, especially with those departing from the airport. When travellers arrive, they will notice some of the work including a relocated meet and greet parking area and changes to the bus pick-up and drop-off zones. Back in March the airport released graphics of what parts of the new terminal look like, including sleek and stylish dining areas. Once the project is fully complete in 2026, there will be 39 per cent more floorspace, 76 per cent more retail space, 83 per cent more seating, 77 per cent increase in luggage reclaim belt capacity and 50 per cent more security lanes. Vincent Hodder, CEO, Leeds Bradford Airport commented: "We are delighted to see our new terminal extension open and operational today. "It has been an incredible journey to get here, and we know our customers are going to get a completely new experience from LBA from today. The new £7billion mega terminal opening at Changi Airport "[T]he opening of this building is a huge achievement for all involved." John Cunliffe, commercial director of Leeds Bradford Airport commented: "Today is a huge milestone for Leeds Bradford Airport. "Our new terminal is officially open and ready to welcome passengers, offering improve facilities and enabling us to deliver an enhanced experience for passengers in the region. "As we transition into Phase 2 of the project, the changes will impact the usual passenger flows, and we'd like to thank passengers in advance for their understanding." Another major UK airport's plans for millions more passengers ahead of £1.1bn expansion – with new flights to Europe this year. Plus, one of Europe's busiest airports is getting a new £3.6bn terminal next year offering a 'glimpse into future of travel'. 3
BBC News
4 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Leeds Bradford Airport's £100m extension opens to passengers
A long-awaited extension to Leeds Bradford Airport's (LBA) terminal building has been opened to £100m project is the largest investment yet in facilities at the airport and increased space in customer areas by about 40%, LBA new boarding gates have been added to the airport along with a new immigration area, baggage collection hall, food and drink outlets and an 83% boost in chief executive officer Vincent Hodder said it was the "first major improvement to our terminal since its opening in 1968 and is long overdue". Details of the privately funded project were first announced in 2018, but were quickly eclipsed by a more ambitious plan to build a brand new terminal at the south end of the bosses scrapped that scheme in 2022 because of "excessive delays" and a decision to hold a public inquiry into the development, with building on the extension starting in 2023. Work on the next stage of the airport's reconfiguration will begin later this year, with a full refurbishment of the existing terminal and a new security if a terminal extension meant there would be more flights, Mr Hodder said: "By the time we get to the 2030s and 2040s we would certainly expect to be exceeding the capacity of this terminal."That will require another wave of investment to increase the scope of the airport and meet the needs of Yorkshire."He added: "It's vitally important to upgrade LBA to the world-class facility Yorkshire deserves."The airport said the terminal extension and redevelopment of the original buildings had the potential to create 1,500 direct jobs at LBA and 4,000 indirect jobs by 2030. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
11-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Public Inquiry to start into Leeds Bradford Airport night flights
A public inquiry into night-time flying rules at Leeds Bradford Airport's is set to begin later. Ahead of the hearing, BBC Yorkshire's Transport Correspondent Spencer Stokes takes a look at the key issues at stake. What is the inquiry about? Chaired by an independent planning inspector, the inquiry will consider the legal meaning of the night-time flying rules at Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA).Currently the airport is permitted 2,920 take offs and landings between 23:00 and 07:00 during the campaign group Group for Action on Leeds Bradford Airport (GALBA) say the airport has breached that limit in each of the past three LBA chief executive, Vincent Hodder says the rules, agreed by Leeds City Council in 1994, do not take into account changes to aircraft technology over the past 30 years to reduce noise. What's the background to the inquiry? GALBA say LBA has exceeded its night-time flight limits in 2022, 2023, and 2024 - in the most recent year it said the airport operated 820 more flights than airport has admitted it did "accidentally" breach the night time regulations in 2022 due to "errors taking place in reporting procedures", but claimed it had not gone over in 2023 and 2024 based on its interpretation of the a bid to update the 1994 planning consents, LBA applied to Leeds City Council last year for a Certificates of Lawfulness of Existing Use Development (CLEUDs).It said updating the rules would "provide the correct legal interpretation of the existing planning conditions governing the operation of night flights at LBA".However, two CLEUD applications were rejected by the council and the third was left "undecided", prompting LBA to appeal to the government's planning inspectorate. Where does Leeds City Council stand? Leeds City Council agreed the original planning consent in 1994 permitting 2,920 night flights, and is responsible for monitoring to make sure LBA does not breach the night time flights issued a breach of condition notice against LBA for the additional flights in 2022 and accepted the rules were broken again in 2023, but said the public interest for a prosecution had not been action has been taken after the alleged breach in summer 2024. Has aircraft technology changed? The European Commission said aircraft have become 75% quieter over the last 30 years, but an increase in the number of flights has resulted in a rise in noise disturbance for a greater number of who are based at Leeds Bradford Airport, have ordered 146 Airbus A320 Neo aircraft, which the airline said are 50% quieter than their current Boeing 737s. When will the public inquiry reach a decision? The Planning Inspector will hear evidence for four days, but it's likely to be several weeks or months before the final decision is says if LBA is successful at public inquiry "they will continue to fly hundreds more night flights than the original rules intended to allow.".The airport said it would not be going through the "difficult, time-consuming and expensive process if this wasn't important to our customers and the airport". Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
