Second airline to leave Leeds Bradford Airport after easyJet withdrawal
Leeds Bradford Airport (Image: Telegraph & Argus)
Leeds Bradford Airport is set to lose another airline following easyJet's decision to withdraw from the airport next year.
Channel Islands airline Aurigny will suspend its Yorkshire-to-Guernsey flights for 2027, ending a decade-long presence at the airport and a route used by thousands of passengers each year.
The decision comes weeks after easyJet said it would leave Leeds Bradford next January, raising fears of fewer flight choices for travellers across the region.
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Aurigny said aircraft availability was behind the decision to axe the service, which operated twice weekly between May and September in recent years.
What the airline said
A spokesperson for the airline said: "Aurigny has decided to suspend operations between Guernsey and Leeds Bradford airports for summer 2027.
"The route has been traditionally popular with travellers from the North of England and will not be operated next year solely due to aircraft availability.
LBA passengers will no longer have direct access to views like this - overlooking Saints Bay in Guernsey. (Image: T&A)
"Aurigny would like to place on record its thanks to the management at Leeds Bradford airport for all the support received whilst operating to the airport.
"Travellers to/from Yorkshire and beyond will still be served by Aurigny’s flights between Manchester and Guernsey, which will continue to provide good access to customers across the North and North-West of England."
Decision is 'really disappointing'
The decision has disappointed regular passengers.
One passenger, who frequently flies the route, said: "I fly from Leeds Bradford quite often to see family in Guernsey, so this is really disappointing news.
"Travelling from Manchester isn't nearly as convenient, and it feels like another blow for passengers after the recent easyJet announcement."
LBA comment
Leeds Bradford Airport said it was disappointed to lose a service used by thousands of travellers each year.
A spokesperson for LBA said: "“Aurigny is choosing to prioritise its core island flying next year and, as a result, LBA sadly drops out of its programme for summer 2027.
“This will be disappointing for the several thousand passengers who have used the service each year, and certainly disappointing news for LBA as we know performance this summer was excellent.
“Looking ahead, LBA will offer 82 destinations next summer, including eight new routes.
"More destinations will be served from LBA than ever before, as we prepare for our biggest summer since the airport opened its doors in 1931.”
Route history
Aurigny first announced the Leeds Bradford route in December 2015, describing it as one of Guernsey Airport's most requested destinations.
Flights began in May 2016, initially operating four times a week.
The route was later scaled back and most recently operated twice a week between May and September.
The route helped strengthen historic links between Yorkshire and Guernsey.
On the inaugural flight was John North, whose mother had been evacuated from Guernsey to Yorkshire during the Second World War.