Leeds Bradford Airport sustainability strategy ‘Together for Tomorrow’ launched alongside £100m terminal regeneration and AENA ownership deal

Leeds Bradford Airport has launched a sustainability strategy committing to net zero for its ground operations by 2030, at the same time as it completes a £100 million terminal expansion and prepares for a change of majority ownership. The Leeds Bradford Airport sustainability strategy, called ‘Together for Tomorrow’, sets targets across four areas: decarbonising operations, protecting the local environment, supporting the regional economy, and investing in its workforce. It arrives during what CEO Vincent Hodder has described as the airport’s most transformative period in decades.

What the Strategy Commits To

The headline commitment is removing all gas from the terminal and switching to onsite renewable energy generation, targeting net zero for Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030. The airport is also part of a consortium leading a £1.5 million government-backed study into Power-to-Liquid Sustainable Aviation Fuel. On transport, the target is for 10% of passengers to travel to the airport by public transport, supported by the existing hybrid FLYER bus services and the planned LBA Parkway railway station. At least 35% of annual procurement spend is to remain within local postcodes, and the airport plans to establish a charitable foundation for local causes.

The airport has also partnered with the Aire Resilience Company to support regional biodiversity, the same public-private flood resilience initiative Leeds Today has previously covered. All waste is already diverted from landfill. On the workforce side, the strategy includes diversity and wellbeing commitments with a target of 10% of employees using annual volunteer time by 2030.

“We are not just building a bigger airport; we are building a better one. Together for Tomorrow is more than a set of targets. It represents a fundamental shift in how we define success, placing sustainability at the heart of our decisions and long-term ambitions.”

— Vincent Hodder, CEO, Leeds Bradford Airport

The £200m Investment and Ownership Change

The strategy sits alongside substantial physical investment. The £100 million LBA:REGEN terminal extension opened to passengers in June 2025, increasing terminal floorspace by 38% and adding new aircraft stands, expanded retail and dining, a larger baggage reclaim area, and improved immigration facilities. The second phase, refurbishing the existing terminal, is being delivered by Farrans Construction and is expected to complete later in 2026. The wider Vision 2030 strategy backs the airport with £200 million in private investment, targeting seven million passengers a year and up to 5,500 new jobs, with an anticipated £1 billion contribution to the regional economy.

In December 2025, Spanish airport operator AENA agreed terms to acquire a 51% stake from current owner InfraBridge, with the transaction expected to complete in the second quarter of 2026. AENA operates 46 airports in Spain and has concessions in 23 airports across 11 other countries.

Why this matters for Leeds

The airport’s sustainability strategy matters for the Leeds business community on several levels. The 35% local procurement commitment puts real money into the regional supply chain. The net zero 2030 target for ground operations is ambitious and measurable. The ARC partnership connects the airport to the wider Aire Valley flood resilience work. But the bigger picture is the airport’s trajectory: £200 million of private investment, a new majority owner in AENA, and a target of seven million passengers by 2030.