Leeds Bradford Airport's plans to compete with Manchester Airport

Announcements concerning new airport infrastructure are rare at the moment - other than those that refer to projects being suspended or even cancelled altogether.

However, the UK's Leeds Bradford airport (LBA) - one that is relatively underutilised given the economic power of one of the cities it represents - has chosen this time to announce a new terminal, which it hopes will help it compete with nearby Manchester Airport as the country's 'Northern Powerhouse' strategy unveils further. If the application is approved, work could start before the end of 2020, with the terminal to be completed in 2023.

Manchester and Leeds-Bradford airports are approximately 45 miles apart and (with other airports) they serve an extended catchment area with a population of more than 25 million people. The Yorkshire and Humber area (planning region) is one of the fastest growing regions in the UK, with a population growth of 6% since 2001.

Ultimately, it is not new terminals or surface transport hubs that attract airlines; rather, it is business potential, and in that respect LBA has much work to do to attract new airlines when Manchester has had a full complement of them.