(Image: T&A)
LOCAL travel agents have responded to the news that easyJet will no longer be operating out of Leeds Bradford Airport - and, unsurprisingly, they're not happy.
The popular budget airline has announced that it will stop operating from the Yeadon airport as of January 5, 2027.
This means it will cease flights to and from the airport to Palma de Mallorca, Malaga, Paris, Barcelona, and Belfast from that date onwards.
The airline claims it has assured travellers that flight schedules up until that date will continue as normal.
The T&A contacted some local travel agents to gauge their reactions to the news.
A significant number of agencies in Bradford told us that it wouldn't affect their business as they either didn't use the airline, or sold only intercontinental flights.
But some agencies, and customers, will no doubt be impacted. Here's what they had to say.
(Image: Freelance)
Announcement comes as a 'surprise'
Aqif Bhatti, from Bhatti Travel on Legrams Lane, told the T&A: "The announcement by easyJet to cancel flights from Leeds and Bradford has come as a surprise to myself, and customers so far are not aware of the cancellation.
"The destinations were very poplar with the locals and now will have to travel further which is time-consuming, especially for my business customers and locals.
"I hope easyJet reconsider this decision and put the Yorkshire residents needs first."
For us it's disappointing
Tony Mann, from Idle Travel on Bradford Road, said: "We have not been informed of this happening.
"Actually we just contacted them [easyJet] to ask them what is going on.
"Our customers had not been aware [of potential changes to flights and potential cancellations].
"For us it's disappointing, disappointing for customers to lose any routes."
An easyJet plan at the airport
(Image: T&A)
What a local MP had to say
Robbie Moore, Conservative MP for Keighley and Ilkley, said: “It is hugely disappointing to hear that easyJet will no longer be operating from Leeds Bradford Airport from January next year.
"easyJet has been an important part of the airport’s offering for many years, and losing their services will inevitably mean less choice for many passengers across Yorkshire.
"I hope the airport can work quickly with other operators to secure these routes and ensure the region continues to have the connectivity it deserves.
"Leeds Bradford Airport is vital to our region’s future, and we must make sure it continues to go from strength to strength, especially following its £100 million terminal expansion last year.”
What the airline had to say
A spokesperson for easyJet said: "Following a review of our routes from Leeds Bradford Airport, we have made the decision to no longer operate flights from the airport after 5 January. Our focus is on maintaining and developing routes which prove most popular with customers.
“We have contacted customers with bookings beyond this date to provide them with advance notice and inform them of their options, including a free transfer to flights from an alternative airport or a refund, and we are very sorry for the inconvenience caused.
“We value the relationship we have built with Leeds Bradford Airport and we always keep options for our network under review, with the aim of providing more choice and connectivity where we see demand.”
2010 marked the first easyJet flight out of LBA
easyJet first operated from Leeds Bradford in December 2010, launching a seasonal Geneva service.
The airline returned in 2021 with a route to Belfast International Airport.
The withdrawal comes just two weeks after easyJet confirmed a £5.7 billion takeover by private equity firm Apollo.
Its also been reported that the airline had recently reported a 70 per cent drop in profits, driven by higher fuel costs and weaker demand.
Eight other airlines, including Ryanair and Jet2, continue to operate from Leeds Bradford.
Leeds Bradford Airport has been contacted for comment.