More than 100 job cuts confirmed Leeds Bradford Airport due to impact of Covid pandemic

The airport confirmed today that it has entered into a consultation process with 158 staff regarding redundancies, with 107 permanent positions set to be cut.

LBA said the decision was made due to the challenges of the global pandemic, as it operates in "extraordinary circumstances".

The pandemic has hit the aviation industry and campaigners in Leeds have previously called on authorities to help people find jobs outside the aviation industry.

LBA said the cuts were necessary for the business to survive the short-term impact of the crisis, but said the decision was separate to its "long term aspirations" for the airport, which is set for a £150m expansion.

A spokesperson for LBA said: “We are deeply saddened to be consulting with a number of colleagues due to the impact of the global pandemic.

"Like most businesses, we are operating in extraordinary circumstances and this has led to some difficult decisions.

"The long-term prognosis for aviation is very different to the short-term constraints our business faces and we regrettably must act to safeguard the business.”